Felipe Scandelari Transforms Renaissance Icons in 'Desculpe, Rafael' at Galeria 18

On September 12, 2026, Galeria 18 in São Paulo opens 'Desculpe, Rafael', a solo exhibition by Brazilian artist Felipe Scandelari featuring approximately 15 oil paintings. The works reinterpret classical European masterpieces, particularly from the Renaissance, by preserving their structures and compositions while updating characters, settings, and symbols. Saints, gods, and heroes are replaced by friends and family; armor gives way to shorts; and tropical vegetation invades originally European landscapes. The show includes pieces after Botticelli, Artemisia Gentileschi, Paolo Uccello, Guido Reni, Rogier van der Weyden, and Piero di Cosimo, among others. Scandelari's approach highlights the contrast between technical rigor and irreverent contemporary elements, making the banal sublime and the everyday sacred. The exhibition runs until October 24, 2026, with free admission. Galeria 18, located at Rua Simpatia 23, Vila Madalena, positions itself as a welcoming space for contemporary art, representing both renowned and emerging artists. The show's title, 'Desculpe, Rafael' (Sorry, Raphael), suggests a dialogue with tradition, exploring how it remains alive through transformation rather than faithful repetition.