Preserving the Legacy of an Italian-American Artist

The Thomas LoMedico Project

Thomas Gaetano LoMedico (1904-1985) was an Italian-American sculptor and medalist best known for creating the medallion that the State of Texas awarded to the first astronauts to walk on the moon, and reliefs of six early saints for the exterior of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

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About Thomas LoMedico

Thomas Gaetano LoMedico (1904-1985) was an Italian-American sculptor and medalist. His most notable works include the State of Texas Medal of Valor, which was awarded to the Apollo 11 crew in 1970; An American Family, which was exhibited at the 1939 World’s Fair representing MetLife; Six Early Saints, 10-foot reliefs at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC; and Wings for Victory, an award-winning sculpture of a WWII aviator which was originally intended to be installed at LaGuardia Airport.Born to Sicilian immigrants Filippo LoMedico and Angelina Cimino, Thomas discovered a love of sculpture as a child in his native New York City, using mud collected at riverbanks to create figures of animals. In the 1930s, he received a Public Works Art Project (PWAP, a New Deal program) contract to create murals for the post office in Wilmington, NC. He married Leonora Lisciandra, a chemist for the State of New York, and they resided in Tappantown, New York until his death. They did not have any children, and Leonora was an indispensable force in Thomas’ career. After her death in 2000, the body of his work was liquidated, necessitating this project. Thomas’ works include many medals, façades, reliefs, and free-standing sculptures. Collections of his papers can be found at the Syracuse University Library and Archives for American Art.The medallions awarded to the Apollo 11 crew, cast in gold, are part of a 2026 exhibit by the Texas State Library in honor of America 250.

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