Info
Yan Copelli is a painter and sculptor born in Rio de Janeiro in 1986 who currently lives and works in São Paulo.
His works look at an ontological perspective of objects based on hybrid drawings that blend hands, feet and other human body parts with things that are thrown away, such as banana skins, socks with holes in, flip flops, and wilted petals, creating tension between ideas of production and utility in order to shake up hierarchies of value.
These drawings serve to orient his paintings and sculptures, creating a universe in which the objects that remain on the ground, at the height of our feet, become protagonists and form new possibilities of existence. Made from oil paint and sand, his sculptures give us the feeling that they might dissolve at any moment — like a fragile object or even an undefined image from a dream, revealed at times as a painting, and at others as a sculpture. The artist also uses materials such as ceramics and bronze to produce his works.
His works look at an ontological perspective of objects based on hybrid drawings that blend hands, feet and other human body parts with things that are thrown away, such as banana skins, socks with holes in, flip flops, and wilted petals, creating tension between ideas of production and utility in order to shake up hierarchies of value.
These drawings serve to orient his paintings and sculptures, creating a universe in which the objects that remain on the ground, at the height of our feet, become protagonists and form new possibilities of existence. Made from oil paint and sand, his sculptures give us the feeling that they might dissolve at any moment — like a fragile object or even an undefined image from a dream, revealed at times as a painting, and at others as a sculpture. The artist also uses materials such as ceramics and bronze to produce his works.
EDUCATION
2009-2012
BA - Industrial design (Graphic Design department) at University Center of the City of Rio de Janeiro (UniverCidade), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
SOLO AND DOUBLE EXHIBITIONS
2023
Cosmic slop slop (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg), Projeto Vênus - São Paulo, Brazil
2022
“Sapateado” - Duo Exhibition with Allan Gandhi, Acervo - São Paulo, Brazil
2021
“Baba na fronha” (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg), Projeto Vênus - São Paulo, Brazil
How I Feel (curated by Mama Like) - Duo Exhibition with Ivana De Vivanco, 208 Bowery - New York, United States
2018
A forma das Coisas, Espaço.CC - São Paulo, Brasil
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
“Fundo falso”, Acrilar - São Paulo, Brazil
2022
Entrepanos (curated by Ricardo Ribenboim e Rachel Vallego), Casa Fiat de Cultura - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Entranha estranha (curated by Guilherme Teixeira), Espaço mini lounge - São Paulo, Brazil
Visions of paradise (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg), The Boiler Room project - Galeria Jaqueline Martins - Brussels, Belgium
Apocalypse now: são tantos apocalipses (curated by Rafael Bqueer e Ricardo Sardenberg ), Projeto Vênus - São Paulo, Brazil
2021
A Máquina Lírica (curated by Pollyana Quintella), Luisa Strina Gallery - São Paulo, Brazil
Chat Cube (curated by Rudá Cabral), Homeostasis (https://homeostasislab.org/) - online exhibition
Aragem, Anita Schwarts Gallery - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Futuração (curated by Lucas Albuquerque) , Aymoré Gallery - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2020
Monster High group show - online exhibition
Ao ar, livre (curated by Tiago de Abreu Pinto) - online exhibition
Nine out of ten (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg) - online exhibition
Fog Machine (curated by Nelly Ben Hayoun), part of the University of the Underground research program in Amsterdam, The Netherlands - online exhibition
Art in Isolation, North Dakota Museum of Art - North Dakota, US
Ressetar (curated by Duilio Ferronato), Diversity Museum - São Paulo, Brazil
Abre Alas (curated by Keyna Eleison, Pablo de La Barra e Yhuri Cruz ), A Gentil carioca - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2019
A menina mais feia da turma, Ateliê 397 - São Paulo, Brazil
Antes Tarde Duke Nukem, Deactivated Hospital - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Parabéns (curated by Guilherme Teixeira), Tingua building mezzanine - São Paulo, Brazil
FESTIVAU DE C4NN3$ - sem anos de história, Lona gallery - São Paulo, Brazil
Abraço coletivo (curated by Paula Borghi), Ateliê397 - São Paulo, Brazil
A Casa Da Galerista (curated by Maria Monteiro) , Copan - São Paulo, Brazil
Corpo além do corpo (curated by Carollina Lauriano) , Ponder - São Paulo, Brazil
The Others (curated by Tokio galeria), Brasil Perú Cultural Center - Lima, Peru
No Borders, Miscelanea Bcn - Barcelona, Spain
Salad days, Young Space winter online exhibition (curated by Kate Mothes)
2016
Conversão (curated by Carlos Issa e Ana Helena Tokutake), Sé gallery - São Paulo, Brazil
2015
Altplana (curated by Bia Bittencourt), Elevado - São Paulo, Brazil
2013
Laço, Paço das Artes - São Paulo, Brazil
2012
Tattoo the Girl, Mutuo Centro de Arte - Barcelona, Spain
2011
Ofício Coletivo, Public Archive of the State of Rio Grande do Sul - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2010
Parede 2010, International Poster Art Festival, Federal Justice Cultural Center - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2010
Mental Mazes (curated by Ryan de la Hoz), Double Punch gallery, San Francisco - CA, US
RESIDENCIES
2020
Olhão web residency program / June
University of The Underground - research bureau “If I can’t dance I don’t want to be part of your revolution - Amsterdam - Tbilisi / April - June
PUBLICATIONS
2021
ArtMaze Magazine - issue 22
2015
Faq Magazine - Issue 9
2009-2012
BA - Industrial design (Graphic Design department) at University Center of the City of Rio de Janeiro (UniverCidade), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
SOLO AND DOUBLE EXHIBITIONS
2023
Cosmic slop slop (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg), Projeto Vênus - São Paulo, Brazil
2022
“Sapateado” - Duo Exhibition with Allan Gandhi, Acervo - São Paulo, Brazil
2021
“Baba na fronha” (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg), Projeto Vênus - São Paulo, Brazil
How I Feel (curated by Mama Like) - Duo Exhibition with Ivana De Vivanco, 208 Bowery - New York, United States
2018
A forma das Coisas, Espaço.CC - São Paulo, Brasil
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
“Fundo falso”, Acrilar - São Paulo, Brazil
2022
Entrepanos (curated by Ricardo Ribenboim e Rachel Vallego), Casa Fiat de Cultura - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Entranha estranha (curated by Guilherme Teixeira), Espaço mini lounge - São Paulo, Brazil
Visions of paradise (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg), The Boiler Room project - Galeria Jaqueline Martins - Brussels, Belgium
Apocalypse now: são tantos apocalipses (curated by Rafael Bqueer e Ricardo Sardenberg ), Projeto Vênus - São Paulo, Brazil
2021
A Máquina Lírica (curated by Pollyana Quintella), Luisa Strina Gallery - São Paulo, Brazil
Chat Cube (curated by Rudá Cabral), Homeostasis (https://homeostasislab.org/) - online exhibition
Aragem, Anita Schwarts Gallery - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Futuração (curated by Lucas Albuquerque) , Aymoré Gallery - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2020
Monster High group show - online exhibition
Ao ar, livre (curated by Tiago de Abreu Pinto) - online exhibition
Nine out of ten (curated by Ricardo Sardenberg) - online exhibition
Fog Machine (curated by Nelly Ben Hayoun), part of the University of the Underground research program in Amsterdam, The Netherlands - online exhibition
Art in Isolation, North Dakota Museum of Art - North Dakota, US
Ressetar (curated by Duilio Ferronato), Diversity Museum - São Paulo, Brazil
Abre Alas (curated by Keyna Eleison, Pablo de La Barra e Yhuri Cruz ), A Gentil carioca - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2019
A menina mais feia da turma, Ateliê 397 - São Paulo, Brazil
Antes Tarde Duke Nukem, Deactivated Hospital - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Parabéns (curated by Guilherme Teixeira), Tingua building mezzanine - São Paulo, Brazil
FESTIVAU DE C4NN3$ - sem anos de história, Lona gallery - São Paulo, Brazil
Abraço coletivo (curated by Paula Borghi), Ateliê397 - São Paulo, Brazil
A Casa Da Galerista (curated by Maria Monteiro) , Copan - São Paulo, Brazil
Corpo além do corpo (curated by Carollina Lauriano) , Ponder - São Paulo, Brazil
The Others (curated by Tokio galeria), Brasil Perú Cultural Center - Lima, Peru
No Borders, Miscelanea Bcn - Barcelona, Spain
Salad days, Young Space winter online exhibition (curated by Kate Mothes)
2016
Conversão (curated by Carlos Issa e Ana Helena Tokutake), Sé gallery - São Paulo, Brazil
2015
Altplana (curated by Bia Bittencourt), Elevado - São Paulo, Brazil
2013
Laço, Paço das Artes - São Paulo, Brazil
2012
Tattoo the Girl, Mutuo Centro de Arte - Barcelona, Spain
2011
Ofício Coletivo, Public Archive of the State of Rio Grande do Sul - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2010
Parede 2010, International Poster Art Festival, Federal Justice Cultural Center - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2010
Mental Mazes (curated by Ryan de la Hoz), Double Punch gallery, San Francisco - CA, US
RESIDENCIES
2020
Olhão web residency program / June
University of The Underground - research bureau “If I can’t dance I don’t want to be part of your revolution - Amsterdam - Tbilisi / April - June
PUBLICATIONS
2021
ArtMaze Magazine - issue 22
2015
Faq Magazine - Issue 9