As part of Delbarton’s annual AP Art Exhibit, we continue our AP Artist Spotlight series featuring the creativity, discipline, and vision of our senior artists. This week, we highlight Sam Rotolo ’26, whose portfolio explores sacred spaces across the world through the layered, expressive lens of printmaking.

“My love for art came from my creative and curious nature. I have always been fascinated by churches in general. I found peace and meaning in them, so I felt fairly comfortable dedicating my AP Studio Art portfolio to this subject," he explained in his Artist Statement.

Rotolo’s fascination with places of worship began in childhood, rooted in a sense of calm and wonder he found within these structures. One experience stands out in particular, a family trip to New York City, where stepping into the grandeur of St. Patrick's Cathedral left him feeling part of something so much bigger. That moment helped shape the foundation of a portfolio grounded in reverence, curiosity, and architectural exploration.

This year, Sam centered his Sustained Investigation on printmaking, a medium he connected with deeply during AP Art last year. He focused primarily on dry point etching, complemented by monoprint techniques and additional approaches that allowed him to build texture, contrast, and depth. Sam also incorporated a range of color processes, including watercolor, pastels, and Chine Collé, using each to emphasize the emotional tone of the spaces he studied.

Sam’s work spans sacred architecture across continents, documenting churches from Rome to Kenya, capturing an impressive range of stylistic traditions. Over time, he has transitioned from classic, traditional structures to more unconventional forms, and most recently, he has been drawn toward the ornate richness of Baroque-style churches. “I hope that viewers take away the different feeling of each church and realize how each of these places makes the viewer feel," Rotolo said.

Through his careful printmaking craft and thoughtful use of color, Sam invites viewers to notice how sacred architecture shapes atmosphere, emotion, and personal experience. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue experimenting with color and expand his exploration to include a wider range of global places of worship, balancing a portfolio that has, until now, focused largely on Catholic sites.

We thank Sam for sharing his artistic journey and for offering a window into the unique character and spirit of sacred spaces. Stay tuned for our next AP Artist Spotlight in this year’s series!