Maria Lai (1919-2003), the influential Sardinian artist whose work draws on the rich history and traditions of her native land, created multimedia works that explore community, religion, and folklore. This book, the catalogue for a show in Sardinia, presents nearly 70 works, most previously unseen, related to the extraordinary Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) series that Maria Lai created in 1981 and which she donated to the parish of Ulassai, her birthplace. Maria Lai’s artistic endeavour is strongly defined by a mix of secular and religious spirituality: the work presented in this volume reveal her idea of “making art” as something that must respond to the essential questions of mankind and the meaning of existence.

Micol Forti has been the director of the Collection of Contemporary Art of the Vatican Museums since 2000. After obtaining a specialisation and doctoral degree in art history, from 2001 to 2015 she taught art literature and museology at Sapienza University in Rome. Her research ranges from the critique and history of 20th century art to contemporary sacred art and papal art collecting, touching upon aspects of the conservation of historical and artistic heritage.