Alfonso Umali's First Solo Show 'Still Chill' at Green Dust Cafè

Alfonso Umali, a 24-year-old Italian-Filipino artist and student at Accademia di Brera, presents his first solo exhibition 'Still Chill' at Green Dust Cafè in Milan, open until May 17. The show features nine acrylic-on-panel still lifes that juxtapose life and death, using vibrant colors to revitalize the traditional genre. Works like 'Mela e granata' contrast a life-giving apple with a deadly pomegranate, while 'Memento vivere' pairs a wine glass with a skull. The exhibition originated from a 2024 workshop at Casa degli Artisti, organized with Accademia di Brera and Istituto Cervantes, led by Spanish artist Diana Larrea, focusing on Milanese painter Fede Galizia. Umali, a member of the Felipe Cardeña Crew since 2019, has participated in numerous live painting events and curated shows including 'XXX Stories' (2023), 'Pray for Pride' (2024), and 'OccupyPride' (2025). Curated by Christian Gangitano, who has followed Umali's career from the start, 'Still Chill' reinterprets vanitas tradition for contemporary audiences.