Sculptor Armand Saiia named ArtsNatchez Artist of the Month for June

NATCHEZ – Sculptor Armand Saiia has been named ArtsNatchez Gallery’s Artist of the Month for June.

A public reception for Saiia will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at ArtsNatchez Gallery, located at 425 Main St. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Saiia’s exhibition will include medium-sized and small sculptures, along with paintings completed during the past eight months. He describes the paintings as a blend of realism and abstraction.

Saiia signed the series “Fortunate Thomas,” combining his given name, Fortunato, with the surname of his late friend Joan Thomas, who painted the backgrounds featured in the works.

“The work is collaborative,” Saiia said. “That’s one of the distinctive aspects of this show.”

Saiia, who is of Sicilian descent, grew up in Buffalo, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Buffalo State Teachers College. He said his love for art began at an early age, including time spent at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery after winning a workshop scholarship around age 10.

“My refuge was the museum, and I still exist in that space,” Saiia said.

While he also draws and paints, Saiia said sculpture has long been his primary art form. His work often includes old forged metal, wood, chains, stone and bone-like forms. One of his larger sculptures, titled “Subjugation,” includes a log resembling a large bone and stacked metal and chains that reflect themes of suffering.

Saiia moved to Natchez about two years ago after living in Baton Rouge. He said he