Two People.
One Standard.
Root Restoration and Creation is a husband-and-wife studio producing original sculpture, restoration work, and complete spatial design. We bring classical training, master-level craftsmanship, and genuine personal investment to every project we take on.
Background: work in progress at the studio · altar marbleizing with Restorations Plus
Riley Root — Lead Artist
My work centers on sculpture, restoration, and helping shape sacred spaces through beauty, craftsmanship, and tradition. Whether creating something new or caring for a piece that has stood for generations, my goal is always the same: to honor the place it belongs and the people it serves.
My training began at the Sacred Art School in Florence, Italy, where I had the privilege of studying under sculptor Cody Swanson and developed a strong foundation in classical figurative sculpture. That foundation, together with years spent working alongside experienced artists and restorers on churches and historic projects across the country, including time with Conrad Schmitt Studios, continues to shape the way I approach my work. I remain deeply grateful to the many gifted artists and craftspeople who have generously shared their knowledge and experience with me.
Restoration is some of the most meaningful work I do. Caring for historic sculpture, architectural elements, and sacred artwork is both a technical craft and a responsibility. Each piece carries the marks of the artists who created it and the communities who have cared for it over time. It is a privilege to help preserve that history and allow it to continue serving future generations.
Today, Kevin and I work together on every commission that comes through our studio. While I create the sculptural, symbolic, and iconographic elements that give each piece its character, sculpting is only where the work begins. From mold making and casting to fabrication, mounting, and installation, every project is the result of our combined skills. It is work I could not bring to life in the same way without him, and I am grateful every day that we get to build these pieces together.
Getting to spend my days making beautiful things with my best friend is one of life's greatest gifts. Kevin understands the way my mind works in a way few people ever could, and working alongside him has become one of the greatest joys of my life. It is my hope that the pieces we create will continue to serve, inspire, and be cared for long after we are gone.
Kevin Root — Lead Craftsman
I build the structure and Riley makes it beautiful. Whatever the project is, I will design it and build it. Every piece is made specifically for the space it will live in.
On every project we take on, I am on site. I handle the structural work, the fabrication, and the logistics. I came to this through years of working with wood and learning how things are actually put together. That background is what lets me look at a space, understand what it needs structurally, and build something that will still be standing long after we are gone.
I also run the business side of Root Restoration, contracts, scheduling, operations. A project that is beautiful but delivered late or over budget is not a success, and I take that seriously.
Getting to work every day with my best friend on beautiful projects to support our family is such a gift. I believe the things we make should be worth making. Built well, and built with enough respect for the person who will live with them that they can feel the difference. That is the standard I hold myself to on every job.
Why Restoration Matters
Restoration has become one of the most meaningful parts of Riley's work, particularly in bronze. Caring for a piece that has already lived in public, in a church, or in a family carries weight.
Recently she restored a bronze statue dedicated to the Martyr of Charity, placed in remembrance of sisters who gave their lives in service. It was an honor to care for something so meaningful, both as a work of art and as an object of devotion.
As fewer classically trained artists take on this kind of work, we feel a growing responsibility to step into that gap. Not just by making new things, but by preserving what already exists and deserves to continue.
The Studio's Approach
We make things that are meant to last. That means understanding the space something will live in, the purpose it needs to serve, and the people who will be around it every day. Good work comes from that kind of attention. Not from templates or shortcuts.
We've built relationships over the years with skilled specialists in stained glass, mural painting, stonework, and metalwork. When a project calls for those capabilities, we bring in people we trust and coordinate the full scope ourselves. The client gets one point of contact and a unified result.
We work with parishes, private families, municipalities, institutions, and anyone with a project that calls for this level of craft. The category doesn't change the standard.
In the News
Local Catholic sculptor has seen how the beauty of her art helps spread the Gospel message
A profile of Riley's work and formation as an artist, her training in Florence, her approach to figurative sculpture, and the relationship between beauty and meaning in her work.
Read the Article