Cathedral Pope John Paul artist explores faith through paintings
Once a seminarian, Rutherford artist Victor Victori is a man of many faiths. His paintings depict biblical scenes and religious leaders from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and more—faiths he has studied for decades. At one time, he even aspired to become a Catholic priest and was mentored by his cousin, a bishop in South Korea.
So, it was befitting when his friend Father Wilfred Yeo of the Archdiocese of Newark entered Victori’s gallery at Willowbrook Mall in 1979 and told him Pope John Paul II was planning his first of several trips to the United States. He suggested Victori paint the pontiff’s portrait and deliver it to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, where the pope would be most likely to visit and receive it. Although he painted the portrait, logistics did not bring the Pope to the Cathedral Basilica until much later. Nevertheless, Victori did donate the painting to the Archdiocese in October 1979, meeting Archbishop Peter Gerety and painting his portrait in the process.
Years after Pope John Paul’s 1995 visit to the Cathedral, a side chapel was unofficially dedicated to the pope, displaying the pope’s chair, a relic containing the cassock he was wearing during his near-assassination, a kneeler he used at the Cathedral, and — unbeknownst to Victori — the painting of the pontiff.
This Easter, Victori went to Mass at the Cathedral and was thrilled to see his painting displayed in that alcove dedicated to Saint John Paul. It was the perfect achievement for a man who has spent a lifetime immersed in both art and faith.
“It was a happy moment to go to the cathedral for Easter Mass with Cardinal Tobin as celebrant. Then to see my painting after 40 years, it was a really big surprise,” Victori said.
Early Catholic life in Korea
Victori grew up in South Korea, where Catholic churches were hard to come by at the time. But the faith was seeing an expansion. And his father, who was a devoted Catholic, wanted Victori to become a priest.
“I was an altar boy and went to seminary school for two years,” Victori recalled. “It was not for me. I wanted to be an artist. I packed up and went to the art academy in Korea.”
In Korea, he got a job painting reproductions of famous classic paintings. He was good at it too, even beating out his fellow artists to complete a replica of Michelangelo’s Last Supper in almost a day.
To see the world, Victori joined the Korean Air Force in 1967, where he mostly performed odd jobs. It was during this time that he met an American G.I., who told him he should seek his fortune in the United States. He decided to do so, but not before expanding his art education in France, Italy, and major European cities. There he studied the masters, including da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Picasso.
In 1972, he finally made it to the United States, where he began a portrait business in the lobby of the Hotel Washington in D.C. He painted portraits of presidents, lawyers, doctors, ambassadors, Saudi royalty, and even the royals’ bodyguards. He headed to San Francisco and Florida and continued painting there. Then, in the 1980s, he moved to New Jersey, where he settled, continued his art, and raised a close-knit family of five boys.
Faith influences his art
Victori might have left the seminary as a young man, but his fascination with religion never wavered. In fact, he has spent much of his life examining his faith.
“Now, I’m all religions,” he said, laughing. “I’ve learned Chinese ancient philosophy, Roman, Greek, Egyptian Tibetan, Celtic, the Book of the Dead, and so much more. But, I do love the Catholic faith and celebrate Sundays for peace.”
This interest in faith has carried over into Victori’s painting. His religious art includes portraits of Jesus, the 12 apostles, Noah, Mary, and a modern version of the Last Supper.
“I think I have done almost some interpretation of most biblical characters,” he said.
Victori dedicated 30 canvases to the crucifixion, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ alone. He has also created 1,000 paintings of God and scenes from the Old and New Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation.
Paintings by Victori hanging in his house in Rutherford include Jesus, Jesus baptizing with the 12 apostles, and portraits of the 12 apostles. (Jaimie Julia Winters)
“I’m fascinated by Christianity, God, and the afterlife, so that has kept me busy for about 20 years,” Victori said.
He is also fascinated by the lives and music of Mozart and Beethoven, whom he says were influenced by Catholicism.
“Beethoven wrote two Masses, ‘Mass in C,’ ‘Missa Solemnis,’ and an oratorio, ‘Christ on the Mount of Olives,’ about the Agony in the Garden. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is considered a Catholic choral piece,” Victori said.
Outside of art, Victori is an ordained minister who seeks salvation from within, powered by faith in God, himself, and his morning yoga and meditations. The trinity of “mind, body, and spirit” aligns with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, he said.
“When you find peace in yourself and let the noise of the world pass through you, you become one with God,” said Victori, who is 81. “I exercise, stretch my body every morning, and do deep breathing. When I’m done, I feel 55.”
Being a minister has also allowed him to preside over the marriages of his friends.
Semi-retired, Victori has closed his galleries but still paints at a feverish pace in a tiny Lyndhurst studio. Once only a classical artist, he has now branched out into more modern art, creating what he has termed “Multiplism” style. According to the artist, Multiplism captures the fluidity of human dimensions—facial expressions and physical, emotional, and spiritual states of being.
Victori has also authored two massive books reflecting on his work, faith, and relationship to God. God & I: Volume I was published in 2009, while Volume II was released in early June.
Today, Victori lives in Rutherford with his greatest muse – his wife, Maria – in a house where every wall and ceiling is adorned with his art. In total, he has completed more than 30,000 artworks thus far.
For more information on the artist, visit www.victorvictori.com.
To take a virtual tour of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, including the side chapel unofficially dedicated to the pope, click here.
