Lawrence, Kansas – Earthwork artist Stan Herd traveled to Chiclayo, Peru, this past summer to create a large mosaic portrait of Pope Leo. Using roughly 9,300 broken square tiles, Herd and a group of university students spent 13 days arranging the shards into the likeness of the pontiff.
From Lawrence to Peru
Herd, known locally for his large‑scale public artworks, said the idea began with a simple desire to spread a message of love. “We decided to do mosaic tile. I’ve never done a piece like that,” he explained. The project quickly grew beyond a solo effort when students from a Peruvian university joined, turning the work into a collaborative community effort.
Building the portrait
The process was labor‑intensive. Herd described how the team took beautiful, colorful square tiles, shattered them into smaller pieces, and then painstakingly repositioned each fragment to form the Pope’s face. “The whole idea was to take these big, beautiful square tiles, bust them into parts, and then reposition them into the shape of the face, utilizing all of the beautiful colors,” he said.
While the mosaic was not intended as a political statement, Herd emphasized its spiritual and humanitarian purpose. “I’m trying to promote humanity. I’m trying to promote love and peace and treating people with respect and dignity,” he said, noting that he was raised Southern Baptist but does not consider himself a religious man.
Local faith leaders respond
Father Luke Doyle, a Lawrence priest who has met Pope Leo in person, praised the work. “It’s a great gesture of kindness and generosity and of love for a man who is the spiritual father of over a billion people in the world,” Doyle said. He added that the portrait shows how even those who are not Catholic—or even Christian—can appreciate the Pope’s compassion, humility, and respect for human dignity.
Hope for the Pope’s eyes
Herd and his team were in Chiclayo when Pope Leo’s plane touched down at sunrise. Though Herd had no expectation of meeting the pontiff, he expressed confidence that the Pope would see the mosaic. “There’s very little doubt that he’ll see it,” Herd said.
The project follows Herd’s recent local attention for an Algerian flag earthwork created during the World Cup, underscoring his commitment to using public art as a vehicle for unity and love.
Community impact
Back in Lawrence, the mosaic has sparked conversations about the power of art to bridge cultural and religious divides. Local residents and faith groups have lauded the effort as a testament to the city’s tradition of hospitality and its residents’ willingness to support creative endeavors that promote respect and dignity for all.
As the mosaic awaits its final placement, Herd hopes the piece will continue to inspire love, peace, and mutual respect—values that resonate deeply with Lawrence’s families and faith‑centered community.
Original reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City (local) — read the source article.
