Founded in 2024 by artist Adrian MM Abela, churchless church began as an intention, a community for those who feel churchless, where “church” is understood not only as a building or a belief, but as whatever offers meaning, grounding, or grace to those who seek it.
At present, it takes the form of a curved church pew inside the artist’s studio, serving as a space for intimate conversations about reality and the ways we navigate it. Although still a private endeavor, the project aims to open to the public in 2026, inviting others to take part in an unfolding experiment in contemplation and connection.
The name and symbol of churchless church draw from distinct yet converging sources: a motif from the Ħal Tarxien Prehistoric Complex, located within walking distance of where the artist grew up, and a Chinese koan. The project also evolves from an earlier work initiated in 2008, which sought to map reality through both scientific and mythic understandings of the earthly organism—the octopus—after the artist experienced a perspective-shifting encounter with the creature while snorkeling in Xgħajra, Malta.