Step into a world of creativity and adventure at Priest Ranch as we host The Unexpected Journey of Artist Mario Chiodo. This exclusive reception offers a rare opportunity to meet the visionary behind some of the most iconic public art pieces, including Oakland's Remember Them: Champions for Humanity monument. Explore a selection of Mario Chiodo’s captivating work up close in our Yountville tasting room, while savoring the eclectic wines of Priest Ranch and indulging in artfully crafted bites from The Kitchen at Priest Ranch.
Join us for an evening that celebrates art, flavor, and the unexpected. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today!
Read more about Mario, his history, and his work. About the man behind the masks:
From depictions of individuals who made history to mythical, magical figures, Mario Chiodo searches for the life force of each character he sculpts.
As if his destiny was predetermined, Mario Chiodo began sculpting mud he dug from the yard as a small boy. Born to Italian parents, family visits to Italy only fueled his desire. He has vivid memories of Michelangelo’s Pieta and the Four Slaves emerging from stone, works that impressed upon himdynamic gesture and the depth of emotion possible in sculpture. Due to undiagnosed severe color blindness, Chiodo was pulled from traditional middle school and sent to a hybrid school for the arts where he flourished, a serendipitous and life changing event.
Discovered as a young man sculpting likenesses of his favorite old movie stars in horror movies,
Mario Chiodo entered the art world through the Halloween industry, quickly becoming a leading d
esigner, revolutionizing the industry with his enigmatic design for 20 years. Chiodo was granted licensing rights to create popular collectibles for major film studios such as Lucas Films, Warner Br
others, Paramount Pictures, Disney Studios, and Universal Studios.
In the 1990s, themed architecture was exploding and Chiodo received requests for site specific
sculpture all over the country. He worked closely with the Harrah’s Corporation and Caesar’s Palace and was responsible for many spectacular themed projects in Las Vegas and New Orleans. Chiodo’s
dynamic artworks have been commissioned for everything from restaurants, clubs, casinos, hotels, museum exhibits, theme parks, and even Google headquarters.
Inspired by the horrific events of 9/11, Chiodo shifted his focus to creating historical, educational, and inspirational works of art. Remember Them: Champions for Humanity was unveiled in September 2013 and is the largest bronze monument west of the Mississippi dedicated to human and civil rights. In December 2012, Mario Chiodo spoke at the TEDxConference in Napa Valley about the Remember Them Monument.
Chiodo has won many historical sculptural commissions throughout the U.S. such as the Underground Railroad monument in Delaware, a Memorial at a slave cemetery unearthed in Virginia, the Barefoot Mailman in Florida, Master Trauma Surgeon L.D. Britt, MD, MPH in Virginia, and a monumental sculpt of the 14th Dalai Lama installed at His Holiness’ monastery in Ithaca, NY.
Shifting his focus once again, Chiodo has created his own series of Fine Art editions which explore the theatre of humanity such as the evocative Four Seasons inspired by Napa Valley. His passionate Angels, born out of the pandemic, embody human emotions and characteristics in breathtaking gesture. A master storyteller, Chiodo sculpture transcends mere visual facts and reveals the inner soul of his subjects.
