Saul Zanolari

Saul Zanolari (born September 18th, 1977 in Mendrisio, Switzerland) has always been intrigued by art as a tool for questioning identity and representation. Rather than following a traditional art academy path, he graduated in Philosophy with a focus on the History of Classical Rhetoric (2004), driven by a deeper interest in meaning rather than form.

After starting his career in traditional painting, he embraced digital media in 2005 and soon began exhibiting internationally. Throughout his work, Zanolari reinvents people, historical figures, celebrities, and icons to explore power, ego, and human complexity.

In his recent projects, he shifts toward a radical visual simplification. His series XXY PORTRAITS and XXY – de’ Medici reduce identity to essential elements such as chromosomal symbols (XX/XY) and stylized bodily details, revealing how contemporary society flattens individuals into recognizable signs. This body of work gained institutional recognition with the exhibition “XXY – de’ Medici” at the Museo de’ Medici in Florence (2025), where part of the collection was officially donated to the museum.

Zanolari continues to expand his research across mediums — from digital frescoes revisiting iconic masterpieces to sculptural f...

Phd Philosophy - Milan 2004

Solo Exhibitions

2025
XXY de’ Medici — Museo de’ Medici, Florence · IT (June 16 – July 20)

2016
SZ Chapel — Kir Royal Gallery, Valencia · ES

2014
Sistine Chapel 2013/14 — JOYCE Gallery, Beijing · CN
Sistine Chapel 2013/14 — JOYCE Gallery, Shanghai · CN

2012
Fashion Icons — JOYCE Gallery, Beijing · CN

2011
S.O.S. / …—… A Counting Hand (Iron & Ceramic Installation)
Piazza Manzoni, Lugano · CH

2008
Safotofestival — San Antonio, Texas · USA
Saul’ Soul — Heist Gallery, New York · USA
Post Human — F2 Gallery, Beijing · CN

2007
Quello che non so dire — Luciano Inga-Pin, Milan · IT
Nettie Horn Gallery, London · UK

2006
Dolls, Drags and DJs — Brick Lane Gallery, London · UK
New New Portraits — Galerie Mamia Bretesche, Paris · FR

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Group Exhibitions

2023
The Pixels Show — Times Square, New York · USA
with Art Innovation Gallery

2016
Merge (cur. VIN+OMI) — Sanderson, London · UK
Babel Me — Shanghai Museum of Glass, Shanghai · CN

2015
SZ Chapel MMXIIIMMXV* — Second Nanjing International Art Festival, Nanjing · CN
🏆 Excellence Prize

2011
A Portrait Apart — Porter Contemporary, New York · USA

2009
Mutate Britain – One Foot in the Grove — London · UK
Baby, Like That — SexPot Salon Artistique, Amsterdam · NL

2008
Emergenze Cre...