McAuley Images: Portrait of the Sculptor
Attending Mercy High School in Michigan connected Sr. Marie with Sister Mary Ignatius, R.S.M who gave her the impetus to pursue and develop her talent. Marie received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercy College of Detroit in 1971 and her Master of Arts degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1984. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, has studied abroad and is well traveled. She taught high school for thirty years and chaired the departments in which she taught for twenty-eight of those years. Since 2002 Sister Marie has been teaching at the University of Detroit Mercy in their School of Architecture.
Sister Marie’s art focuses on individuals who have made significant contributions to society. A few years prior to entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1985, her art work began to focus on Catherine McAuley, the first Sister of Mercy. She has always worked in a wide variety of media: oil, water color, pencil, charcoal, pastel, ink, calligraphy and bronze. Her fascination with sculpting remains at the center of her work. This allows her to combine her passion for working in bronze with her devotion to the charism of Catherine McAuley as well as numerous other religious and historical figures.
As a result of her many forms of artistic expression and an overwhelming interest by the public in purchasing her works of art, McAuley Images was born.
Sister Marie continues to create life-size bronze sculptures, bronze busts, bronze reliefs and bronze table sculptures. Over the years she has produced works of art for many communities in the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy congregations worldwide, as well as for Mercy sponsored institutions & organizations. In addition, she has received commissions from groups like The Michigan Catholic Conference, parishes, and other congregations of women religious.
Delivering these bronze images in person provides Sister Marie delight ~ as well as the opportunity to meet people who continue the legacies of Catherine McAuley and others. She often expresses her deep gratitude in being able to continue this ministry.
Some of her most popular pieces include:
- Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy
- Frances Warde, the first Sister of Mercy to establish the Sisters of Mercy in North America
- St. Thomas More, lawyer and Catholic martyr, patron saint of lawyers and politicians
- “The Spirit of Mercy”, a bronze relief featuring Catherine McAuley, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa, and Elizabeth Seton set alongside the original Baggot St. Foundation/House of Mercy
- Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
- Sarah, mother of Isaac, wife of Abraham
- Mary of Nazareth, depicting Mary in later life
For further descriptions of the above, see the webpage |
Welcome to McAuley Images – online art gallery which features a variety of bronze sculpture, as well as other artwork. As you browse these pages, you will
notice that much of my work is dedicated to portraying the wonderful charism
and spirit of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. I hope
that viewing these pages piques your interest in finding out more about her
and her enthusiastic devotion to the poor, the sick and the uneducated,
especially women and children. Enjoy your visit and I hope that you find
something to inspire you on these pages. Please feel free to return again
often. You will remain in my prayers, as I hope I will be present in yours.