French artist JR unveiled monumental portrait of Naples in new exhibition at Gallerie d’Italia

The Gallerie d’Italia in Naples is currently hosting Chi è Napoli?, a landmark exhibition by acclaimed French artist JR, running from May 22nd to October 5th, 2025. This major show is part of JR’s ongoing Chronicles series and marks his first large-scale public installation in Italy. After projects in cities like San Francisco, Havana, and New York, French artist JR turns his lens to Naples, capturing the city’s vibrant contradictions and deep communal spirit.

In September 2024, French artist JR and his team photographed and interviewed 606 residents across seven neighborhoods—from Piazza Sanità to Mergellina—creating a collective portrait of Naples. The resulting images form a massive photographic collage on the façade of Naples Cathedral, transforming the Duomo into a mosaic of faces that embody the city’s resilience, energy, and layered identity.

Inside the museum, this JR’s exhibition offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the project’s creation, alongside previous works from the Chronicles series, including Chronicles of Clichy-Montfermeil, which explores the Paris suburbs, and The Gun Chronicles, a mural addressing gun culture in the U.S.

Throughout the exhibition, JR continues to use photography and public spaces as a platform to spark dialogue about identity, memory, and belonging. The Naples project’s power lies in the participation of local residents—each portrait a testament to lived presence and shared experience.

Supported by the Municipality of Naples and Intesa Sanpaolo, this JR’s exhibition underscores the vital role of art in civic life. By integrating artwork into both sacred and everyday city spaces, French artist JR invites audiences to reflect not only on Naples but on their own identities—how they see themselves and wish to be seen.