Artist Statement
BARCELONA: CITY OF LIGHT! CITY OF JOY is a series of travel photographs capturing the happiness and freedom I feel visiting Barcelona, a place I truly love. It is a vibrant city rich in the Arts, Catalan Culture, Food, Architecture, History, and so much more. It is a city that blends old and new - Roman ruins, Gothic cathedrals and Modernist buildings.
January 2026, my partner and I visited Barcelona for our 13th trip. It began 2011, as part of a spiritual, personal journey for me, and has continued all these years. This trip included new experiences including going to the top of the Sagrada Familia’s Nativity tower and visiting Antoni Gaudi’s Torre Bellesguard.
Antoni Gaudi’s work is very much intertwined and at times synonymous with Barcelona. This year Barcelona was awarded the UNESCO World Capital Of Architecture international honor award and will host the World Congress of Architects.
On February 20, 144 years after construction began, the Central Tower of the Sagrada Familia, in honor of Jesus Christ, was completed with a 56 foot cross lifted into position. “This tower, which brings to a close over a century of construction, marks a pivotal moment in the temple’s history, laden with religious and architectural symbolism.”
June 10, 2026 is the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudi’s death. Huge celebrations are planned to honor Gaudi and his architectural achievements. Pope Leo XIV will visit Barcelona and celebrate a solemn Mass commemorating Gaudi’s death and the inauguration of the Christ tower. The Sagrada is a monument in stone to Gaudi’s ingenuity, creative genius, religious beliefs and his love of nature - “nature being the greatest teacher of all.” My hope is that this collection of photographs conveys the special place Antoni Gaudi and Barcelona have in my heart. Both bring me a lot of joy.