Information and images Courtesy via Mp5 Comunicación
"Sublime": Chrispapita Exhibits His Sacred Art in Rome at an Official Vatican Event
The artist Christian Escobar, "Chrispapita," has become the first Guatemalan to present an exhibition of sacred art at an official Vatican event. This was announced by Marinellys Tremamunno, Vatican journalist and curator of the exhibition titled "Sublime"; the exhibition is located in the Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary at the Forum of Trajan, right in the historic center of Rome, and is recognized as an official event of the Dicastery for Evangelization of the Holy See.
The exhibition—open from October 10th until January 6, 2026—presents three large-format works (2 m x 1.82 m) created using the traditional chiaroscuro technique: Saint Michael the Archangel, exhibited for the first time in December 2024 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Guatemala; plus two unpublished works, Saint Gabriel the Archangel and Our Lady of Sorrows (María Dolorosa).
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It is precisely this last work, Our Lady of Sorrows, that represents the spiritual core of the exhibition: an intense image of pain and hope that invites visitors to reflect on the presence of Mary in the suffering of the world and in the redemption of humanity.
"Our Lady of Sorrows is the Mother who shares the pain of her children, but also the one who, with faith and silence, awaits the Resurrection," the artist explained. "In her, I wanted to represent the strength of the faith that is born in darkness and opens up to the light of God."
The curator also explained that "the three works are situated midway between the pictorial language of the Baroque and the Latin American spiritual sensibility, becoming a visual prayer." She also thanked the financial support of Capillas Señoriales, which made Chrispapita's works possible in Rome, in addition to the institutional support of the Italian energy company SNAM and the sponsorship of the Lazio Region.
A Milestone for Guatemala
With "Sublime," Christian Escobar solidifies his international presence and reaffirms the vitality of Latin American sacred art within the contemporary spiritual and artistic landscape.
The Italian art critic Francesco Maria Bonifazi, in analyzing the exhibition, highlighted that it is a new voice in sacred art, but with a unique style that has been able to restore a sense of transcendence and emotion to religious painting.
"It is the power of the discourse that distinguishes Chrispapita's work, the expressiveness that conveys impeccable expository clarity, a grammatically perfect pictorial style—that's what makes the difference. The coldness (of hyperrealism) has no place in this young master, who arrived from abroad with his burden of pain and color, of unwavering impetus, of a smile on the face of life."
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For her part, Marinellys Tremamunno, also the artist's representative in Italy, noted that "Christian represents not only Guatemala but all of Latin America. His art is an offering of faith and beauty, and his presence in Rome, in the context of the Holy Year 2025, is a testament to his mastery as a hyperrealist artist and also that evangelization can also be expressed through the beauty of art."
It is not for nothing that the Rector of the Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary, Monsignor Andrea Manto, defined the exhibition as "a moment of grace for the Church of Rome, capable of touching hearts and inviting contemplation of the Trinitarian love."
With "Sublime," Christian Escobar "Chrispapita" not only elevates the name of Guatemala before the universal Church but also reaffirms that sacred art remains a powerful way of encountering the divine.
Upcoming Events in Rome
As part of the Jubilee, the "Sublime" exhibition will be accompanied by two special events. On Saturday, November 22, at 11:00 a.m., there will be a guided tour with the participation of art critic Francesco Maria Bonifazi and Vatican journalist Marinellys Tremamunno, as part of the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple. And on Friday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a meeting with the artist Christian Escobar, prior to the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), where he will share his testimony and the spiritual process behind his works.
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General Information
* 📍 Location: Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary at the Forum of Trajan, Rome.
* 📅 Duration: Until January 6, 2026.
* 🕰️ Hours: Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Sundays in the morning before the Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m.
* 🎟️ Admission: Free.
* 📸 Photographs: Pablo Esparza.
