Skyler Chen at Casa Masaccio: "Imitation of Life"

Opening: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Casa Masaccio stages "Imitation of Life", the first solo exhibition in an Italian public institution by Taiwanese artist Skyler Chen. Curated by Marta Papini in collaboration with MASSIMODECARLO gallery, the show revisits Western pictorial tradition by inserting contemporary, often dissonant elements into classical compositions.

What to expect

Chen's canvases recall fourteenth- and fifteenth-century portraiture and composition but are disrupted by incongruous details — text, enlarged fragments, everyday objects — that introduce tension and new meanings. Familiar imagery becomes a vehicle to explore memory, desire and identity, with attention to queer Asian experiences and diaspora.

Practical information

• Venue: Casa Masaccio | Center for Contemporary Art, Corso Italia 83, San Giovanni Valdarno (AR), Italy
• Opening: 6 June 2026
• Curator: Marta Papini
• Collaboration: MASSIMODECARLO gallery
• Focus: contemporary painting, Renaissance references, identity and queer diaspora themes

For visiting hours, tickets and guided tours, please refer to Casa Masaccio's official website. The exhibition offers a compelling encounter for visitors interested in the intersection of classic techniques and contemporary narratives in painting.