Podcast 'O Ateliê' Exposes Abuse Allegations in Brazilian Art School

Journalist Chico Felitti's podcast 'O Ateliê' investigates serious allegations of physical, psychological, and financial abuse at Atelier do Centro, an art school in São Paulo directed by artist Rubens Espírito Santo. The accusations, presented in court by former student Mirela Cabral, describe a cult-like environment where students were forced to call Espírito Santo "master." The case has sparked intense discussion within artist, gallerist, and collector circles due to the school's connections with prestigious figures in the contemporary art circuit, though their identities remain protected in the podcast. Felitti focuses on giving visibility only to those who consent to be named publicly and contextualizes the case with experts, exploring the difficulty of recognizing toxic relationships. The journalist, who was also interviewed, asserts that Espírito Santo held no relevance in the art circuit and maintained the school for over 20 years by exploiting the naivety and fragility of its participants. Through testimonies from former employees and infiltrated art students, the podcast frames the atelier's behaviors as emblematic of an "old Brazil" that persists despite societal changes. In his own defense, presented in episode nine, Rubens Espírito Santo claims the group consisted of consenting adults where any excesses occurred collectively.