BIOGRAPHY
“Each sculpture is a visual prayer that tells a story and invites reflection.”
Timothy Paul Schmalz is a Canadian sculptor who has spent decades turning faith into form.
His bronze sculptures, from intimate pieces to monumental installations, are displayed across more than 50 locations worldwide, from local parishes in Ontario to St. Peter’s Square to the Vatican. Many have been blessed by Popes Pope John Paul II and Francis. Several have changed the conversation around homelessness, migration, and human dignity in the cities where they stand.
Tim’s art transforms biblical narratives and spiritual values into a universal language that engages viewers emotionally and spiritually.
LOCATIONS
WORLDWIDE
YEARS OF
WORK
PAPAL
PRESENTATIONS
Early Life & Calling to Art
Timothy Schmalz was born in 1969 in Elmira, Ontario. He found his calling early — by 16, sculpture had become an obsession — and he was accepted into the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. He lasted three months.
Disillusioned with an art world chasing novelty over meaning, Schmalz walked away and, soon after, made the decision that would define his life’s work: to sculpt Christian subjects, exclusively.
His Philosophy
Tim blends traditional bronze casting techniques with contemporary narratives. His inspiration comes from scripture, saints like St. Francis of Assisi and Saint Carlo Acutis, and the lives of real-world communities in need. Through sculpture, he seeks to educate, inspire, and move audiences, making spiritual truths tangible in public spaces.
EARLY CAREER
In his twenties, Schmalz created A Quiet Moment, an intimate portrayal of the Holy Family that became one of his first widely recognized works.
He also proved he could handle work at a civic scale: the Sudbury Mining Monument, a 15-foot bronze sculpture featuring dozens of individual miners, completed around age 30 after months of near-constant work.“My mind, heart, and soul are focused on glorifying God through works of art. I do everything I can to see a concept from a new perspective, because I believe that is how we find creative ways to celebrate the Creator.”
– Timothy Schmalz
Homeless Jesus & Global Recognition
In 2013, Schmalz unveiled Homeless Jesus — a life-size bronze of Christ shrouded on a park bench, identifiable only by the wounds on his bare feet. It found its first home at Regis College, Toronto.
More than a decade later, replicas stand in over 100 cities around the world — from Capernaum to Madrid, Johannesburg to Vatican City — making it one of the most widely installed pieces of religious public art of its time.
Vatican Commisions
Schmalz’s focus on the marginalized led to a landmark commission from the Vatican. Working with Cardinal Michael Czerny, he created Angels Unawares — a 3.5-ton bronze boat carrying 140 migrants and refugees from across history, with angel wings rising from its center.
On September 29, 2019, Pope Francis blessed and unveiled the sculpture in St. Peter’s Square — the first new sculptural work installed there in four centuries.
CREATIVE PROCESS
Tim’s process is raw and tactile: concepts often begin as rapid sketches on wood panels, evolve into wet clay models, and are finalized through the ancient lost-wax bronze-casting technique. He works deliberately in bronze — chosen for its permanence, ensuring these public works stand for centuries and continue conveying their message.
Global Impact
Tim’s works serve as cultural and spiritual landmarks, connecting people across communities worldwide. Whether a pilgrim in Fatima, a student in Toronto, or a visitor in Rome, those who encounter Tim’s work rarely leave unchanged. His sculptures have become landmarks — cultural, spiritual, and social — in the communities that have received them.
“I hope my sculptures remind people to see the sacred in everyone they meet.”
– Timothy Schmalz
See the work that carries it forward.