FenomeNOVENArt - The Art of Faith

An artistic journey within the Saint Sebastian novena

In Marigliano, in the province of Naples, the month of January is defined by devotion to Saint Sebastian the Martyr, the city's patron saint celebrated on January 20th. For several years, however, traditional rites have been accompanied by an initiative that has few equals in Campania: FenomeNOVENArt - The Art of Faith, a contemporary art trail hosted in the Annunziata Church, adjacent to the Santa Maria delle Grazie Collegiate Church, during the nine days of the patronal novena.

The concept is both simple and surprising: entrusting nine contemporary artists with the task of narrating the saint using today's expressive media. Painting, sculpture, and installations become tools to interrogate the martyrdom, resilience, and symbolism of Sebastian, one of the most depicted figures in Western art history. This is not a devotional exhibition in the strict sense, but a laboratory of ideas where religious tradition engages with modern expressive codes.

How it works: nine nights, nine artists

The mechanism follows the rhythm of the liturgy. Each evening, at the end of the celebrations in the Santa Maria delle Grazie Collegiate Church, the faithful and visitors move to the nearby Annunziata Church, where an artist presents their work and explains its genesis, intentions, and references. It is not a static exhibition to be walked through in silence, but a choral narrative that builds day by day, with the artist present and available for discussion with the public.

• Nine consecutive evenings, from January 11th to 19th, coinciding with the patronal novena.
• A different artist for each appointment, with a presentation of the work and dialogue with those present.
• Different techniques: painting, sculpture, installation, mixed media.
• Access within the context of the patronal feast, open to the entire community.

From the first edition in 2022 to the fifth in 2026

FenomeNOVENArt was born in January 2022 at the initiative of Father Lino D'Onofrio, parish priest of the Collegiate Church, who invited a group of artists to create a work based on their own interpretation of the martyr. In that first edition, the works were created almost in real-time while the novena rites were being celebrated in the church next door, and they were unveiled to the public at the end of each evening.

The format has since consolidated. The third edition, in January 2024, saw the artistic coordination of architect and artist Claudio Bozzaotra and the participation of authors such as Peppe Capasso, Ugo Cordasco, Maria La Mura, Vittorio Iavazzo, Rosanna Iossa, Giacomo Savio, Nunzio Meo, Diana D'Ambrosio, and Oreste Silvestrino. In 2025, the fourth edition opened with Prisco De Vivo, followed by Anna Colmayer, Riva GLDF, Mina Di Nardo, Mary Pappalardo, Pietro Mingione, Giovanni Ruggiero, Angelo Guaglione, and Generoso Spagnuolo.

The works remain in the city

One of the most interesting aspects of the initiative is that the heritage produced is not lost. The works created over the years have been exhibited in the "Art Showcase" of Palazzo Nicotera, bringing contemporary language out of the liturgical space and making it accessible even to those who, due to age or background, would rarely cross the threshold of a gallery. The organizers have also announced their intention to publish a first catalog collecting all the contributions from the first five years.

Marigliano, the patron saint, and the Agro Nolano

Marigliano is a town of over thirty thousand inhabitants in the plain northeast of Naples, in Campania, a few kilometers from Nola and Mount Vesuvius. The feast of Saint Sebastian is the strongest identity-defining moment of the year: on January 20th, the city gathers around the two busts of the saint, one in silver and one in bronze, carried in procession through the streets, and the day traditionally ends with fireworks. FenomeNOVENArt grafts itself onto this fabric of popular devotion and expands its perimeter, involving artists from across the region.

Why it is worth visiting

Those arriving in Marigliano during these days will find a rare combination: a historic church in the Agro Nolano, a community that intensely lives its feast, and a contemporary art exhibition that is anything but decorative. The formula of the evening presentation, with the artist discussing their work in front of a diverse audience, creates an opportunity for listening and discussion that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. It is also a great starting point for discovering the historic center of Marigliano and the other churches in the area.