The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha oil painting by Kevin Pawlowski, on display at the Sacred Art Gallery, captures the first Native American saint with a quiet reverence and emotional depth that mirrors her life. Rendered in contemporary realism, Pawlowski balances lifelike detail with expressive brushwork, inviting viewers into a contemplative experience centered on humility, faith, and the natural world.

Courageous Legacy of the Lily of the Mohawks

Born in 1656 in present day upstate New York, Tekakwitha was the daughter of a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin Christian mother. Her early life was shaped by hardship. At just four years old, a devastating smallpox epidemic claimed the lives of her parents and brother. Tekakwitha survived, but the disease left her with impaired vision and facial scarring.

Despite resistance within her village, she embraced the Christian faith taught to her in childhood. At age nineteen, she was baptized, taking the name Kateri in honor of Saint Catherine of Siena. Facing mockery and persecution for her decision to live a devoted, chaste life, she eventually traveled over two hundred miles to Kahnawake, a Christian Native community near Montreal. There, she dedicated her remaining years to intense prayer, charitable work, and penance.

When Kateri died in 1680 at the young age of twenty-four, eyewitnesses recorded that the smallpox scars on her face miraculously vanished within minutes of her passing, leaving her skin smooth and radiant. Pope Benedict XVI canonized her in 2012, and she is venerated today as the patroness of ecology, the environment, and Indigenous peoples.

Visual Theology and Sacred Symbolism

In constructing the composition, Pawlowski wove specific theological symbols into the portrait to capture both Kateri’s physical history and her spiritual triumph.

• Lilies and Thorns: Seated humbly on the forest floor, Kateri is enveloped by a tangle of sharp thorns intermingled with blooming white lilies. The lilies celebrate her traditional title, “Lily of the Mohawks,” while the thorns symbolize the persecution, isolation, and physical pain she endured. This arrangement directly echoes Song of Solomon 2:2, “Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.”
• The Head Scarf and Crucifix: In her right hand, Kateri gently raises a crucifix, signaling her unwavering devotion to Christ. With her left hand, she modestly holds her head scarf close to her cheek. This subtle gesture reflects both her modest demeanor and her historical practice of shielding her scarred face from view.
• The Upstate Wilderness: The backdrop features a serene landscape of upstate New York, complete with slender white birch trees, soft rolling hills, and a gentle overhead light. This natural setting highlights her deep connection to creation and grounds her identity within her native homeland.

Artist’s Research and Painting Process

Bringing Saint Kateri to life required a balance of historical research, anatomical study, and traditional oil painting techniques. The painting process began with careful compositional planning to ensure the scale felt intimate yet commanding. Pawlowski built the portrait through several deliberate stages:

1. Tonal Underpainting: The artist established the overall values and composition using a thin solvent wash, creating a map of light and shadow across the canvas.
2. Developing Form and Texture: Pawlowski painted localized sections using precise brushwork for her face and hands, paired with loose, energetic strokes for the surrounding foliage and birch trees.
3. Refining and Adjusting: After completing the first pass, Pawlowski set the canvas aside for several weeks. Returning with fresh eyes allowed him to refine facial proportions, soften transitions in skin tones, and adjust background values to create harmony between the figure and the forest.
4. Glazing and Finishing: Utilizing traditional technique, Pawlowski applied translucent glazes and scumbles to enrich color depth and light. A soft glow was cast over the birch trees and background landscape, framing Kateri in an atmospheric light that subtly hints at her miraculous post-mortem transformation.

Experience the Saint Kateri Painting at Sacred Art Gallery

Kevin Pawlowski’s portrait of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith, resilience, and quiet grace. By blending contemporary realism with classical technique, Pawlowski offers a moving tribute to a saint whose story continues to inspire believers and art enthusiasts alike.

We invite you to visit Sacred Art Gallery to view this original oil painting on display. For those seeking to bring this inspirational image into their own homes or devotional spaces, museum quality giclée reproductions are also available through our gallery.