The Two Skeleton Saints – A Journey Into the Fascinating World of Santa Muerte and San La Muerte

Last updated on: December 8, 2023 at 7:02 am by Andrew Chesnut

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The Two Skeleton Saints – A Journey Into the Fascinating World of Santa Muerte and San La Muerte 2023-12-08T07:02:54-05:00 Andrew Chesnut

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By guest contributor, anthropologist Luciano Martucci

The unprecedented ethnographic exposition in Bologna, which revealed the synergy between two unique religious expressions in Latin America, has sparked growing interest among Europeans. The exhibition “The Two Saints,” was the first of its kind in Europe, offering unique perspectives on Santa Muerte and San La Muerte in a singular exhibition in Bologna, Italy. Held at the Plug Radio Spazio Arte, Via Cartoleria 4°, the exhibition welcomed more than 260 visitors from November 14 to 28, 2023.

The unprecedented immersion in the mysterious and fascinating folk saints Santa Muerte and San La Muerte revealed an extraordinary synergy between both spiritual entities.The visitors had the opportunity to explore the deep cultural and spiritual landscapes that characterize both Latin American saints, which contributed so to a greater understanding of these unique devotional figures.

The exhibit presented a rich variety of sacred objects, including statues, rosaries, scapulars, amulets, and pieces of unique popular sacred art, masterfully crafted by the Argentine santeros Coppini, Vallejos,Suarez, Astraban, Mosqueda, and Acevedo. Furthermore, the exhibition boasted numerous objects directly from Mexico, enriching the experience of visitors.

A focal point of the exhibition was the presentation of a rich representation of photography by Ausa, Di Salvo and Zuniga, which helped illuminate the beauty and complexity of both saints. Collaboration with the independent anthropologist Luciano Martucci and the Bolognese artist Diego Borghi brought to light unpublished material, including a full-size Santa Muerte statue crafted from iron and cloth by Borghi.

Through in-depth meetings during the exhibition, the curators dispelled erroneous beliefs, statements and myths, offering the audience a clear distinction between the two skeleton saints. Anthropologist Luciano Martucci, a specialist in religious diversity and healing practices, presented material from his research, while the testimonies and contributions of artist Diego Borghi enriched the audience’s understanding.

The inauguration of the exhibition included the participation of distinguished guests, including Professor Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University, the leading academic expert on the New Religious Movement of Santa Muerte, who along with Luciano Martucci and Susanna Saderi, offered an overview of both folk saints of death.

The in-depth meetings during the exhibition included experts such as Professor Alejandro Frigerio of the Catholic University of Argentina/CONICET and Professor César Iván Bondar of IESyH-CONICET/ UNaM in Argentina, who provided detailed information on San La Muerte.

The exhibit dedicated space for Italian artists, among them Ilario and Veronica from the RKF-HONORFARM of Milan, who exhibited wonderful effigies of Santa Muerte. Works by Franca Bonazza, Walter Lucchi, Alessandro Palmeri and Michele Auletta, along with the wonderful sculpture of the Campano artist Michele Auletta, further enriched the artistic and cultural exhibition.

In short, “Los Dos Santos” exceeded expectations, offering not only the opportunity to explore the deep cultural and spiritual landscapes of Santa Muerte and San La Muerte, but also a chance to meet and share. The exhibit demonstrated that even in the midst of cultural differences, faith and passion can unite people in a unique and extraordinary way.

We wish to thank journalist Ones Farhatt, photographer Giulia Gasparinetti, and everyone that contributed to the success of “Los Dos Santos,” including the visitors, Italian artists, Argentine santeros and academi, experts and collaborators. Their dedication and participation, as well as the partial sponsorship of Cosmovisions, made the event an extraordinary success, contributing to spreading awareness and understanding about the Latin American folk saints, Santa Muerte and San La Muerte.

Pagan

Religious Art

About Andrew Chesnut

Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut earned his Ph.D degree in Latin American History from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1995 and joined the History Department faculty at the University of Houston in 1997. He quickly became an internationally recognized expert on Latin American religious history Professor Chesnut was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Bishop Walter Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies at VCU in 2008. The chair was established as the Most Rev. Walter F. Sullivan was nearing retirement as the 11th bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond to honor his nearly thirty years of service. For Professor Chesnut the chair became a unique opportunity to develop Catholic studies in a global context and at a large public university. Professor Chesnut’s early work, Born Again in Brazil: The Pentecostal Boom and the Pathogens of Poverty (Rutgers University Press, 1997), traces the meteroric rise of Pentecostalism among the popular classes in Brazil following the disestablishment of the Roman Catholic Church. His second book, Competitive Spirits: Latin America’s New Religious Economy (Oxford University Press, 2003) focuses on the three groups that have prospered most in the region’s pluralist landscape, Protestant Pentecostalism, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and African disasporic religions (e.g., Brazilian Candomble and Haitian Vodou). Professor Chesnut's most recent book is Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint (Oxford University Press, 2025). It is the first in-depth study of the Mexican folk saint in English and has received widespread media coverage. You can read more about the author here.

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