Following success, inspiration at the National Eucharistic Congress, Jeanette Quesada built a space to feature Catholic art, artists
ROYAL OAK — After Jeanette Quesada had a successful National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024 as a vendor with her business Mediatrix Designs, she envisioned a permanent one-stop shop for Catholics to find one-of-a-kind Catholic artwork, gifts and heirlooms.
That vision resulted in the Art & Faith Galleria in downtown Royal Oak.
The eclectic store is bathed in natural light, and curious passersby can stop by the walkable North Washington Avenue location to see a range of mediums, styles and prices from local and internationally-renowned artists or simply for a cup of coffee at the espresso bar in the back.
Although the collection is assorted, spanning from collage to photography to painting to Quesada’s own heirloom rosaries made from Venetian glass and Swarovski crystal, the space is cohesive, a testament Quesada says, to God’s hand in making this dream come true and with haste.
“God put this together in eight weeks,” Quesada explained to Detroit Catholic, gesturing to the space.
Quesada, a longtime parishioner at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, was one of the 373 sponsors and exhibitors at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
Quesada said the event was a success; not only did she turn a profit, but she also connected with other sacred artists and discussed the possibility of collaboration.
Not long after the Congress, Quesada, who owns a law office in downtown Royal Oak, stopped by what is now her storefront – the merchant that had been there for over a decade was going out of business.
Quesada had faintly considered a brick-and-mortar in the past but never wanted to do it alone. She envisioned the downtown storefront as a studio and storefront for her rosaries.
“At first, I thought that it would be nice if could get my rosary supplies out of my basement; maybe in the back, it would be my workspace, and in the front, I could sell my rosaries, but I thought about it and got scared,” Quesada explained. “I went to the adoration chapel over at my church, and I knelt before Jesus, and I'm like, ‘Jesus, everything seems right, the space seems right…I have no idea what I could be doing, and I don’t want to do it myself. I am really scared to be alone.’ And then I heard in my heart him say, ‘Let me be your partner,’ and then all of the fear just sort of melted anyway, and I was like, ‘Well, if you're my partner, then let’s go.’”
Shortly after, two other artists agreed to display their work in the space – Quesada grew in confidence, certain she could make a gallery work with herself, two others and, of course, Jesus, as her collaborators.
In October 2024, Quesada, with no prior curation or gallery experience, began renovating the space to become an art gallery. By her opening day on Nov. 15, the space was not only transformed, but in addition to herself, Quesada had 15 other artists signed — from start to finish, Quesada had built the galleria in just shy of four months since the National Eucharistic Congress.
“Even when people said yes to being involved, no one knew what the galleria was going to be,” Quesada explained. “I was just watching God carve a path, and I was like, ‘OK, what else do you want me to do?’”
While she never discounted other peoples' testimonies of clearly hearing God's command, she had never experienced it herself until she felt directed by God to open the Galleria
“When the space needed to be painted, bam, it was painted in a day and a couple of hours. I don’t have an art history degree, so who am I to own a gallery?” Quesada laughs. “If you are the willing subject, God will carve that path. I am the one willing, and He just put it all in place.”
Quesada explained that it is unheard of in the art world to put together so many artists so quickly, and she gives all the credit to God.
“That’s just what God can do because it isn’t me,” Quesada added. “God wants this here for a purpose and reason, and I am happy to do it (for Him).”
Quesada is proud of the talented group of artists she has assembled and passionately discusses each artist’s work, including her daughter, Ariana Quesada, whose photography is featured in the galleria.
Ariana, who also helps Quesada with the store’s social media, said that the galleria is like an extension of her childhood home, where her mom was always dabbling in a new art form.
In addition to Quesada’s rosaries, buyers can choose from one-of-a-kind artwork, including handmade fountain pens, silk scarves, collages, oil paintings, bronze statues, multimedia wall hangings, t-shirts and more.
While some of the artwork is overtly Catholic — such as paintings or bronze statues of saints and the blessed mother and deconstructed Bibles, dating back to the 1850s and older, which are draped on crucifixes or the Holy Spirit— not all of it is so conspicuously Catholic in nature.
“My art is not specifically religious, but my faith tends to flow through, and sometimes I'll start painting, and I will be inspired, “ internationally award-winning artist Susan Perrish told Detroit Catholic. Perrish, who has only been painting for 10 years, has several portraits hanging in the galleria. Her husband, Robert, is an artist, and his work is also featured in the galleria.
“When I am painting, I just feel such a connection to God,” Perrish explained. Her artwork conveys messages of hope, faith, longing and beauty.
“There are times in life when we know that, but for faith, but for hope, you're lost; I think that tends to come through even subliminally in my paintings,” Perrish said. “I don’t tend to be specific, and in fact, I don’t usually tell everybody what the painting is about – I want them to take it and experience it. Every brush stroke is my sort of ode to my love of God and Jesus.”
Local sacred artist Mary Dudek said that having her artwork at the “beautiful and holy” galleria is a “feather in any artist’s cap.”
Dudek’s life-size sculptures are installed in churches across the Archdiocese of Detroit, including a Madonna statue at St. Benedict Parish in Waterford and a bronze sculpture of St. Francis of Assisi, which was installed at Capuchin Retreat Center in Washington Township to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint receiving the stigmata. Tabletop replicas of both of these sculptures are for sale at the galleria.
“I think art has a spirit to it,” Dudek said. “When you walk around the DIA in the sacred areas, and then you go to some of the contemporary areas, you feel the atmosphere shift. And so when you have a gallery like this dedicated to sacred art and to beauty, it feels different; you want to stay, and you feel peace when you walk in, and it inspires you.”
Dudek said that while other Catholic art stores, galleries and gift shops exist across the country, this one is “a standout” that elevates the typical understanding and offerings of Catholic gifts.
Quesada hopes Arts & Faith Galleria will become a go-to for Catholics, she said that the response from the Royal Oak community has been positive. She has already opened the space for artist showcases and live music and hopes to host charity events and artist workshops. Her next event is an artist showcase, highlighting collage artist and painter Ric Larson on Feb. 27 from 6-8 p.m.
“I want to change the culture a bit in Royal Oak. I had a gentleman walk in, and he was obviously under the influence, and when he walked in the door, he stopped, and he looked around,” Quesada said. “I said hello, and I was not going to push him out the door, but he said, ‘This is a holy place. I need to go right now,’ and he walked out."
Quesada wants the galleria to be a welcoming, open place, whether or not people are there to purchase art, sip some coffee, or just chat with her.
“I want people to be able to come and feel comfortable here. What better place to have a cup of coffee and just tell me what you need to tell me?” Quesada said. “I have people come in the galleria and just tell me their story. The best part about it is that I can take that to prayer, and I can take them to God. One of the things I’ve learned in life is that a lot of people, even really good prayerful people, will forget to pray for themselves, so you know it is part of my ministry, part of my gift, putting myself in those places, like the Galleria, that I know my gift can be realized.”
Art & Faith Galleria is located at 433 N. Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067
