OUT OF MY CONTROL
OUT OF MY CONTROL Solo show at Underdogs Gallery, Lisbon – December 2025 https://youtube.com/shorts/KWMsiqasaxE?feature=share Water is impossible to control. No matter how hard we try to channel it, dam it, or restrain it, it will find a way to flow. Life, as we know, is no different.There is no plan clear enough, to keep it from unfolding its own way. Some call it chaos. Others, trusting the process. It is by using watercolor that AkaCorleone chose to let go. Out of My Control is an exercise in freedom, in which the artist challenges himself to work with a technique that is, by nature, a physical manifestation of the lack of control. Guided by paper as a visual thread, diluted acrylic paints, and a restrained color palette, he created dozens of works exploring different geometries, textures, saturations, gestures, shapes, and brushstrokes. As he trained his hand, he learned and unlearned. https://youtube.com/shorts/anMSJqnOgEk?feature=share The starting point was something deeply personal, small yet immense: the experience of fatherhood. With it, life began to somersault in unexpected ways. Out of My Control unfolds as an extremely biographical visual diary of the joys and challenges of daily life, like finding pleasure in a stolen ten minutes to read a book. Throughout his career, AKACORLEONE has been known for meticulously planning his techniques, colors, and titles before even beginning a work. Here, he does the opposite. Instead of relying on external production, he turns to manual, hands-on, and craft-based gestures developed in his own studio — an exercise in embracing the domestic and the intimately familiar. This is AKACORLEONE’s fifth solo exhibition at Underdogs, following his first in 2014, when the gallery itself had just opened. Eleven years later, he returns to watercolor and painting on paper — the same mediums that marked his debut — now revisited with the maturity of an artist who, after years of disruptive large-scale projects, rediscovers the joy of play. Guided less by intention and more by intuition, by touching, experimenting, and creating freely, just as his son does. In the water’s flow and the child’s gesture, he finds freedom in letting go.
O BEIJO
outdoor
BEYOND GRAVITY
BEYOND GRAVITY Mural commission for the BEYOND GRAVITY Lisbon offices, Lisbon, Portugal – October 2024 Brand new comission mural for the brand new Beyond Gravity offices in Lisbon. For this project i was lucky to dive in one of my all time favorite subject matters, SPACE! I got to get inspired by the company’s space craft components, by the dream of space exploration, discovering new planets, new galaxies and who knows, new species! Also had fun incorporating more graphic elements.
DUALITY OF PERCEPTION
DUALITY OF PERCEPTION Solo show FREVO NYC, New York City, USA – September 2024 The Temple of Light welcomes you to “DUALITY OF PERCEPTION” an exhibition that explores the fascinating interplay between opposites, revealing the profound beauty and complexity that arises from their interaction. In every corner of our world, duality manifests itself, shaping our experiences and perceptions in profound ways. LIGHT AND DARKNESS The dichotomy between light and darkness is one of the most fundamental and evocative contrasts in human experience. Light illuminates, bringing clarity, warmth, and life. It symbolizes knowledge, hope, and purity. Darkness, in contrast, is often associated with mystery, the unknown, and introspection. It evokes a sense of depth, rest, and the infinite. Yet, it is within the interplay of light and darkness that we find the most compelling beauty—the soft glow of twilight, the dramatic shadows of a sunny day, the serenity of a moonlit night. This dynamic contrast invites us to appreciate both the brilliance of Light and the tranquility of darkness, understanding that each defines and enhances the other. DAY AND NIGHT The cycle of day and night encapsulates the rhythm of life itself. Day, with its bright and bustling energy, represents activity, progress, and the ceaseless march of time. It is a period of creation, growth, and external focus. Night, on the other hand, brings stillness, rest, and a retreat into the inner world. It is a time for reflection, dreams, and the subconscious. The transition from day to night and back again is a reminder of the natural cycles that govern our lives, emphasizing balance and the necessity of both action and repose This perpetual dance between day and night creates a harmonious balance that sustains life and fosters a deeper understanding of our own rhythms. THE ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES Opposites attract, not only in the physical world but also in the realm of ideas and emotions. This attraction is a powerful force that drives creativity, growth and change. In art, literature, and philosophy, the tension between opposing forces often leads to new insights and deeper understanding. The interaction between opposites such as love and hate, joy and sorrow, chaos and order reveals the complexity of the human experience It is through the reconciliation of these dualities that we find meaning, purpose, and a more nuanced appreciation of the world around us.
PORTUGÁLIA
PORTUGÁLIA Tile mural commission in partnership with Viúva Lamego tile manufacturers.Portugália restaurant at Avenida Almirante Reis, Lisbon, Portugal – June 2024 I was invited to create a tile mural that represented the legacy of this (about to be) centenary institution, taking reference from the architecture, from the history, ancient tiles and iconography of the city of Lisbon. This project also represented the start of a beautiful partnership with the legendary Viúva Lamego tile manufacturers that produced the tile panel, giving me the opportunity to visit and learn from the experts on hand painted tile production in Portugal.
PAYSAGE SAUVAGE
PAYSAGE SAUVAGE Artistic Residency and Solo show in collaboration with Mosaic Factory, Tanger, Morocco Mosaic Factory Showroom, Lisbon, Portugal – November 2023 From the geometric shapes, the balance between the figurative and the abstract, and the creative DNA that characterizes AKACORLEONE so well, comes the latest project: Paysage Sauvage, created in partnership with MOSAIC FACTORY. This collaboration translates into the signing of a new collection of mosaics designed by the artist, whose designs will be included in the catalog of the international tile company MOSAIC FACTORY. It also involves the creation of 5 new large-scale sculptures by the artist and produced by the Moroccan company, marking the company’s first foray into the production of original works of art. This is a concept that comes from the crossroads between real imagination, experimental design and geometry, resulting in a mixed journey between the universe and identity of the Portuguese artist and the landscapes of Tangier. In this colorful journey, the Paysage Sauvage collection was born, which translates the desire to create original works in different materials (granite, marble, cement, among others) multiplied in the potential of a mathematical scenario where the patterns convey various possible paths in an illustrative way. Between functionality and originality, between the balance of mineral textures and plastic color blocks, there’s also a contrast between the saturation and the physicality of the materials, where each new combination represents the possibility of a path and a new scenario, sometimes real, sometimes drawn by imagination. By joining this project, AKACORLEONE became the first Portuguese artist to collaborate with the Moroccan brand, resulting in the creation of five original sculptural pieces that eventually unfolded into seven tiles. This highly detailed collaboration took a total of one year to develop and aimed to inspire the Portuguese artist by working with a multiplicity of materials. “I started by visiting the MOSAIC FACTORY showroom in Lisbon and understanding the techniques they use”, explains AKACORLEONE. “I sought to draw maximum inspiration from the raw materials the company used, and even from the colors. It was a blend of what was available in the catalog and my own identity. In the end, I ended up choosing and developing original pieces, inspired by my visual universe.” AKACOLEONE’s first step in this process was to discover the range of available options and find a way to explore the equivalences, stepping out of its comfort zone and embracing the challenge while conceptualizing something new – a characteristic he always looks for in every collaboration it undertakes. At the culmination of this creative process, the artist did an artistic residency in Tangier at the MOSAIC FACTORY workshops, where he was able to learn directly from the master craftsmen and observe their production methods.
ILLUSION OF CLAY
ILLUSION OF CLAY Solo show at Hotel Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon, Portugal РOctober 2023 In Illusion of Clay, AKACORLEONE tells a story where various elements come together, bringing out the narrative of his own relationship with new materiality and revealing his latest artistic focus: Portuguese ceramics and tiles.This artistic foray dates back to 2022, more specifically to Geneva, Switzerland, where the artist made his debut with an experimental exhibition at the Kolly Gallery exclusively dedicated to this m̩tier, which allowed him to push the boundaries of tile art within Contemporary Art. With a personal and experimental project, the artist took advantage of his inexperience with tiles and turned it into a working tool, drawing inspiration from improvisation, trial and error, and technical unpredictability, sparking slip-ups and making the most of an uncompromising approach while achieving unexpected results. In May 2023, the artist joined a pottery residency in Viana do Alentejo under the teachings of the masters of Olaria Feleciano Agostinho and Olaria Mira Agostinho. Here, he was able to explore this way of working again with a similar technique and the same experimental aim and disruptive spirit, which definitely ensured the development of a new artistic language in the creative branch of his expressive armoury.Following the invitation to show at the Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade, there finally came the opportunity to redesign this creative journey: bringing together the results of the experiences of his past exhibitions with the intervention on the art of pottery and a last and final artistic residency at Tivoli Avenida Liberdade in July 2023.
SELF REFLECTION
SELF REFLECTION Temporary immersive installation for Urban (R)Evolution collective show curated by Pauline Foessel and Pedro AlonzoCordoaria Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal – June 2023 AKACORLEONE is known for his work in which colourful figurative and geometric forms are layered. Playfully evoking contemporary themes, the artist demands the viewer’s participation and engagement. He enjoys telling his own story as well as our personal or societal stories. In this installation, AKACORLEONE questions and surprises us. For the first time, he allows us to explore abstraction by simply letting each individuas story unfold without a figurative path to follow. The artist offers us a journey of introspection, an adventure into the self, where he invites us to reflect and meditate. He asks us to suspend time in the labyrinth of the mind. We are literally confronted with the transparency of the material used, the same transparency we should have towards ourselves. In an almost spiritual way, AKACORLEONE offers us a beautiful lesson about life: access to the light means healing by feeling the colours of life and finding sincere inner peace. This installation becomes an immersive experience also thanks to the sound design by the amazing Alberto Vieira, who created an unique sound design translating reviews from self help books into sound.
FESTIVAL DA LUZ
FESTIVAL DA LUZ Festa da Luz, curated by Juliana Flores, Belo Horizonte, Brazil – May 2023 The Portuguese-Swiss artist AKACORLEONE was one of the major highlights of the 2nd edition of the Festa da Luz (Festival of Light) in Belo Horizonte, held in May 2023. His participation gained notoriety with the large-scale and site-specific installation titled “Temple of Light.” The artwork transformed the iconic Viaduto Santa Tereza, one of the city’s architectural landmarks, immersing the public in a captivating visual experience that utilized neon light, geometry, and vibrant patterns. The “Temple of Light” installation reflected the festival’s curatorial proposal, which invited the public to experience the city through the lens of dream, mystery, and imagination. Through his authorial language, which blends analogue and digital techniques, AKACORLEONE created a kind of “neon stained-glass window” beneath the arches of the viaduct, reforming the perception of reality and suggesting new relationships between the urban space and symbolic elements. The work was one of the most photographed and visited, solidifying the artist’s presence in the Brazilian public art scene. THE LIGHT IS STILL SHINING – A LUZ CONTINUA A BRILHAR A edição de 2023 da Festa da Luz em Belo Horizonte, foi apenas o ponto de partida para um projeto de maior alcance. Sob a mesma curadoria de Juliana Flores, o festival tem consolidado sua presença como uma iniciativa itinerante no Brasil, expandindo-se para além da capital mineira. Essa expansão visa democratizar o acesso à arte pública, levando a magia das instalações para diferentes contextos urbanos. Dessa forma, a obra de grande escala de AKACORLEONE não se encerra no Viaduto Santa Tereza. O sucesso e o impacto da instalação “Temple of Light” garantem que a essência de sua obra – a fusão entre neon, geometria vibrante e arquitetura – continue a influenciar e a ser replicada. O projeto se estabelece, assim, como um movimento cultural que transforma temporariamente o espaço urbano brasileiro em uma galeria noturna e acessível.
SAW THIS / MADE THIS
SAW THIS / MADE THIS Series of commissioned unique pieces for the “Saw This / Made This” Bombay Sapphire campaign.Lisbon, Portugal – February 2023 Series of unique art pieces created exclusively for the “Saw This / Made This” Bombay Sapphire campaign inspired by Lisbon. LISBOA I Watercolor on paper Hahnemühle Harmony Watercolor 300grm 100 x 100 cm. – Original work, 2023 SAW THIS MADE THIS I was challenged Bombay Sapphire to develop a series of original artworks under the #SawThisMadeThis. In a series inspired by Lisbon, the first work talks about the relationship between Tejo and the city.Explore Ribeira das Naus, from Almada to the river, and find what inspired me. LISBOA II Iridescent film on plexiglass plaque 100 x 100 cm – Original work, 2023 SAW THIS MADE THIS In a series inspired by Lisbon, the second work pays homage to the nooks and corners where Art Nouveau and Art Deco are revealed among historic buildings and forgotten details, but always inspiring. LISBOA III LED tape installation on acrylic structure 100 x 100 cm – Original work, 2023 SAW THIS MADE THIS LISBOA IV Iridescent film on plexiglass plaque 100 x 100 cm – Original work, 2023 SAW THIS MADE THIS From the traditional Portuguese tiles, their unmistakable blue and their geometric and abstract shapes that beautify Lisbon, my artistic transposition involves a blue journey between the traditional and the experimental, walking between personal and introspective paths, in an exercise of graphic exploration through my visual universe.