St. Michael the Archangel now towers over Caracas, Venezuela, in a monumental sculpture created by a young sculptor just 17 years old. Standing 23 feet tall, the work seeks to represent faith, protection, and hope.
The sculpture was installed at the entrance to the Las Mercedes neighborhood in the municipality of Baruta and officially unveiled on September 29, the liturgical feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
A Monumental Work
The monument reaches 23 feet in height, including the figure of St. Michael the Archangel and the pedestal on which it stands. It depicts the Archangel with his traditional attributes as a defender and protector.
Behind the work is Josué Benjamín, a young Venezuelan artist who discovered his passion for sculpture as a child and, at just 17, has already undertaken large-scale projects.
“A work that symbolizes protection, strength, and faith, created to become part of this place. I thank God for allowing me to create this sculpture,” the artist said as he shared images of the work.
Josué also expressed his excitement at seeing the piece he had worked on for months finally being installed:
“Seeing a work leave always stirs something inside me; it’s an indescribable feeling. As we install it, I think about the entire journey that brought us here. What one day began in my hands gradually took shape until it became this monumental work.”
The sculpture includes three symbolic marks in memory of the three people who died in the municipality as a result of the earthquakes recorded on June 24, 2026.
The Art of a Young Sculptor
Josué Benjamín’s artistic journey began when he was just 4 years old, when his father taught him to make figures out of modeling clay. From then on, sculpture became an important part of his life.
At 15, the young artist created an almost 20 foot tall sculpture of St. Augustine of Hippo in Guacara, Venezuela, using fiberglass-reinforced resin and an internal metal framework. A team of at least 10 people helped make the project possible.
His talent also led him to create the program “El Taller de Josué” (“Josué’s Workshop”) for Nickelodeon in 2021. That same year, he received the Inspiration of the Year award at the Kids’ Choice Awards.