“The Universe Speaks: The Monumental Sacred Arts of Isabel and Edith Piczek”, is a new book that celebrates the remarkable achievements and artistic brilliance of
Isabel and Edith Piczek. This beautiful masterpiece documents their creative genius and includes images of their extraordinary stained glass, murals, mosaics and ceramic tiles. Along with art quality photographs and images the publication includes significant research that documents dates of projects, size and location of works as well as a biography of their fascinating life.
As a young 14-year-old artist, Isabel Piczek learned that she was to be sent to Moscow by the Hungarian Communist Government to be forced to continue her studies in science. She refused the demand and despite her young age soon escaped from Hungary with her sister Edith. That was the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would take both across Europe, to Rome, Canada and eventually the United States. Arriving in Los Angeles in 1955 they soon purchased property in Echo Park where for the next 60 years they created colossal sized works which are installed in churches, cathedrals, and buildings around the world.
This beautiful book is a result of countless hours of writing and re-writing, meetings, discussions and consultations with former colleagues, pastors and researchers to correctly document the remarkable images of works that both Isabel and Edith created throughout their lifetimes. In addition to their art the book documents their love of the United States, their powerful Catholic faith and the profound presence of Isabel and Edith’s art in churches, schools and multiple places of worship especially in Nevada and California.
Given Isabel’s advanced research in Physics as well as her status as an internationally renowned liturgical artist, the Vatican granted her unprecedented access to study the Shroud of Turin. Isabel wrote and published 32 major papers relating to particle physics, paint chemistry, anatomy and studies of the Shroud of Turin and participated in multiple international symposiums on those subjects. Her work in Theoretical Physics was acknowledged by the renowned Physicist Carl Sagan.
Isabel Piczek
At the end of the Second World War, Central and Eastern Europe continued to struggle under the grip of Communism. Isabel Piczek was still a young student
when she began to visualize the possibilities of a new sacred art form, but she realized early on that there would be no opportunity to create that vision under the oppressive regime in Hungary.
At the age of 14 she was warned that Communist officials would soon come to take her from her family, eliminating any chance to pursue her dreams. With short notice, few belongings, no identification papers and no destination, Isabel and her, Edith, secretly escaped from Hungary. This was the beginning of an extraordinary partnership that would continue throughout the rest of their lives.
In 1992 Isabel and Edith were honored by Pope John Paul II in recognition of their prolific artistic achievements, examples of which can be found in more than 400 cathedrals, churches, and other buildings around the world.
Editor
Dr. Gary Thomas Scott and his wife Mary connected with Isabel Piczek in 2013 while arranging to restore two of her early murals at their parish - St. Anthony Church in San Gabriel, California. A close friendship quickly blossomed as Isabel shared many stories about her life and her goal of completing a book about the works of art that she and her sister created.
Isabel’s health began to fail in 2016 but she was adamant that the book be completed. Isabel passed on September 29, 2016. Dr. Scott assumed the task of honoring Isabel’s wishes, assuring that the book, memorializing the extraordinary artistic achievements of the Piczek sisters, would become a reality.
