Created in the shadowed corridors of Palermo, Sicily’s Capuchin Catacombs, Rolston’s Vanitas offers an unblinking encounter with centuries-old Christian mummies – faces held in a delicate suspension between life and oblivion. Through painterly hues and sculptural light, Rolston renders them not as relics but as haunting presences, radiant with memory and loss. The work meditates on the fragility of the flesh, the persistence of devotion, and the mystery of what lies beyond.
ABOUT MATTHEW ROLSTON
Portrait of Matthew Rolston on set, Courtesy MRPI.
Matthew Russell Rolston is an American artist, photographer, director and educator known for his signature lighting techniques and detailed approach to art direction and design. He has been repeatedly identified throughout his career with the revival and modern expression of Hollywood glamour.
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Vanitas: The Palermo Portraits by Matthew Rolston. Monograph, front cover, Nazraeli Press, 2025