Rafael Silveira Brings His Surreal Universe to London

Rafael Silveira’s paintings are instantly recognizable: richly detailed, classically styled and quietly bizarre. Working primarily in oils, the Brazilian artist blends the technical polish of Renaissance portraiture with surreal, dreamlike imagery, often featuring delicate figures with heads replaced by clouds, plants or swirling smoke. It’s a style that feels both familiar and unsettling, rooted in traditional technique but unbound by logic.

Rafael started out in the ’90s as a graphic artist in Brazil’s underground scene, and that background still shows in the bold, layered feel of his work. Since then, he’s built an impressive career with shows in cities like São Paulo, Milan and New York, and his pieces have popped up everywhere from Juxtapoz to the cover of The New York Times.

Now he’s bringing his surreal universe back to London. From June 13 to July 10, Dorothy Circus Gallery will host a dual exhibition featuring Rafael and his partner, textile artist Flávia Itiberê. Their works, while distinct in medium, share a deep sensitivity to emotion, symbolism and visual storytelling. We’ll definitely be featuring Flávia’s creations on the grid soon, and for now you can find more information on the gallery’s website.

More art on the grid Rafael Silveira’s website