JR covers naples' cathedral with living portrait of the city

jr presents the eighth chapter of his chronicle series

French artist JR unveils Le Cronache di Napoli, the eighth and most emotional chapter in his globally acclaimed Chronicles series, with a massive public artwork installed on the facade of the Italian city’s Duomo. Presented alongside Who Are You, Naples?, an exhibition at Gallerie d’Italia – Napoli, on view from May 22nd until October 5th, 2025, the project captures the energy, complexity, and soul of the city through a sprawling photographic collage of 606 Neapolitans, each a protagonist in this collective portrait of identity, resilience, and belonging.

First launched in 2017 and inspired by the politically charged murals of Diego Rivera, Chronicles is JR’s long-term exploration of place through the faces of its people. After stops in cities like New York, Miami, and Kyoto, Naples becomes the first Italian city to host a chapter. ‘Naples is one of the most interesting cities in Europe because its bustling life and energy cannot be found anywhere else. On the road, for instance, no one respects traffic law, but everyone cares about each other. Technology hasn’t disconnected people who ask for help from each other on the streets,’ says JR.‘One can wonder how long it can stay like this, but Neapolitans are very proud of their city and welcome us here. It is a warm and welcoming city, unique, even in Italy, where everyone knows there’s a truth to this city that every other city has lost.’ That spontaneous, ever-present energy exchange forms the core of the project, now emblazoned across the gothic architecture of the Duomo.

all images courtesy of Intesa Sanpaolo Gallerie d’Italia and JR, unless stated otherwise

a black-and-white human tapestry wraps naples’ duomo

The Naples chapter was developed over an intense week in September 2024, during which JR and his team set up a green screen in seven neighborhoods across the city—from the lively Piazza Dante to the seaside of Mergellina. The open invitation drew a vibrant cross-section of Neapolitan life: pizzaiolos, firefighters, priests, poets, shopkeepers, nonnas, tourists, even the mayor. Each face and story was recorded in situ, reflecting not only who happened to be there but what Naples is in that fleeting moment.

During this intense period, portraits and stories of 606 Neapolitans from diverse social and cultural backgrounds were collected, capturing the very essence of Naples. Participants chose how they wanted to be portrayed and shared their stories in either Italian or Neapolitan, offering an intimate window into their identity. All portraits were taken with identical lighting, giving equal dignity to each subject and emphasizing the democratic nature of JR’s artistic process. The project is made of the people who were there at that moment in a city that is at once refined and rough, poetic and chaotic. ‘Had it happened a week earlier or later,’ JR notes, ‘it would’ve been a completely different story.’

JR unveils Le Cronache di Napoli, the eighth chapter in his globally acclaimed Chronicles series | image via @jr

Who Are You, Naples? at Gallerie d’Italia

Le Cronache di Napoli is a site-specific artwork that wraps the cathedral in a black-and-white human tapestry while also unfolding across the galleries of Intesa Sanpaolo’s Gallerie d’Italia. There, visitors can trace JR’s process from street to screen, as well as revisit three earlier murals from France, Cuba, and the U.S., reinforcing how Chronicles invites dialogue on place, politics, and people. The exhibition is accompanied by a visually rich catalogue published by Allemandi and designed by Leonardo Sonnoli, featuring large-format images and a fold-out poster sleeve that reflects the monumental scale of JR’s interventions.

a massive public artwork installed on the facade of the Italian city’s Duomo | image via @jr