CHICAGO, IL — A hand-carved wooden cathedral created by Lake County craftsman Charles Warner has taken center stage at the newly renovated Intuit Art Museum in Chicago. The intricate model, part of the Dunn Museum’s collection, is being featured in Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-taught Art in Chicago, the debut exhibition in Intuit’s transformed gallery space.
Warner, a Mundelein resident and self-taught artist, created the cathedral as a tribute to his childhood memories of Poland. His work was discovered by Intuit Museum curators through the Dunn Museum’s virtual exhibit Color & Light: Charles Warner’s Miniature Cathedrals, which offers immersive 360-degree views and first-time glimpses inside the colorful, light-filled interiors of Warner’s models.
The piece was selected to join Catalyst, an expansive exhibition highlighting 92 works by 22 migrant and immigrant artists. The show aims to elevate underrepresented voices in Chicago’s artistic landscape and runs through January 11, 2026. It follows a $10 million, 20-month renovation of the museum’s space.
Dunn Museum Curator Heather Johnson confirmed that the artwork was loaned under strict protocols, including environmental controls, comprehensive insurance coverage, high-level security, and professional transportation.
“While this marks our first formal collaboration with Intuit Art Museum, we’ve long recognized their commitment to preserving and showcasing self-taught art,” Johnson stated. “This partnership was a natural fit.”
The loan not only honors Warner’s legacy but also introduces the Dunn Museum’s broader collection to a new urban audience. “Collaborations like this strengthen our role in the regional museum community,” Johnson added. “It’s a meaningful way to build connections beyond our boundaries while celebrating local stories.”
Warner’s journey to the U.S. began at age 16 when he emigrated from Poland. After arriving in New York, he traveled westward and settled in Illinois, working at American Steel and Wire in Waukegan before becoming a carpenter. Upon retirement, a simple request from one of his daughters to build a manger ignited a newfound passion for woodworking.
Starting with ornately crafted birdhouses, Warner soon transitioned to cathedral models by 1955. Using self-made templates, a jackknife, and a jigsaw, he built towering three-to-five-foot structures that took nearly a year each to complete. Though inspired by his European upbringing, the cathedrals were original designs, not replicas. He meticulously painted each piece and often wired them with electricity.
Warner passed away in 1964, leaving his sixth model incomplete. In 1982, his daughter Lucille donated the five finished cathedrals to the Dunn Museum, recalling that her father’s final years spent woodworking were “the happiest years of his life.”
Now displayed in Chicago, Warner’s cathedral continues to inspire, embodying themes of memory, migration, and craftsmanship. “It’s an honor to see Warner’s work resonate beyond our walls,” Johnson said. “We’re proud to help share his story with a broader audience.”
