Underdogs Gallery presents Out of My Control, a vibrant new exhibition by AKACORLEONE, on view through December 31. The show captures a fresh chapter for the Portuguese-Swiss artist, known for his bold graphic language and crisp, highly composed visual style. Here, however, he trades precision for fluidity—embracing the unpredictability of watercolor and diluted acrylic in a way that feels both refreshing and revealing.
(Work at top [cropped]: LOST, 2025, acrylic on paper 25×25cm)
The exhibition explores a central theme: letting go. Rather than mapping out every color, form, and gesture in advance (a long-time hallmark of his practice), AKACORLEONE shifts toward a more spontaneous, intuitive approach. Working with paper as his constant guide, he creates dozens of works that play with geometry, saturation, texture, and movement. The restrained palette and soft washes give the pieces a sense of immediacy—moments caught mid-thought, rather than fully resolved statements.
Fatherhood serves as a key spark for this new direction. Instead of dwelling on emotion, the exhibition channels the simple, universal rhythms of everyday life: small joys, unexpected detours, and the gentle chaos that comes with balancing creativity and domesticity. The result is a kind of visual journal, one shaped not by control but by curiosity.
Out of My Control also marks a return to the mediums that first defined his early exhibitions at Underdogs more than a decade ago. After years of large-scale murals and highly produced projects, AKACORLEONE reconnects with the playfulness of painting on paper—allowing water, pigment, and chance to lead the way.
Born in 1985, AKACORLEONE began as a graffiti writer in Lisbon before moving into illustration, design, and fine art. Today he is recognized for his striking blend of color, typography, humor, and character-driven compositions—an aesthetic now reimagined through a freer, more exploratory lens.
Find out more at the Underdogs Gallery website.
Underdogs Gallery
Rua Fernando Palha
Armazém 56
Lisbon
Email: gallery@under-dogs.net
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 14:00 to 19:00
Entrance: Free
