Hugo Suissas at the Museo degli Innocenti: when photography turns reality into illusion
For centuries, Florence has captivated visitors through its art, architecture, and history. This summer, however, the city also invites them to see the world through new eyes with an exhibition dedicated to Hugo Suissas, one of the most original artists in contemporary photography.
From June 19 to September 13, 2026, the Museo degli Innocenti hosts a temporary exhibition featuring 50 works by the Portuguese photographer: 45 displayed inside the museum and 5 at Mercato Centrale, a partner in the initiative.
When perspective changes everything
Originally from Lisbon, Hugo Suissas has won over an international audience with an instantly recognizable style. His photographs transform monuments, urban landscapes, and everyday objects into surprising images in which nothing is quite as it seems.
The secret behind his work lies not in sophisticated digital effects, but in his masterful use of forced perspective. By carefully seeking out the perfect angle, a simple pencil can become part of a building, a bridge can turn into a nutcracker, and a monument can take on an entirely new purpose.
Each photograph begins as an idea and only later takes shape through the camera lens.
The art of observing everyday life
A self-taught artist with a strong belief that creativity is born from simplicity, Suissas proves that extraordinary images do not require complex tools.
His works invite viewers to slow down, look more closely, and question what they think they know. Ordinary objects, iconic architecture, and seemingly insignificant details become the protagonists of a visual narrative that is ironic, poetic, and surprising.
As the artist himself has said, “Simplicity is not a limitation; it is a starting point. The idea always comes first.” It is a philosophy that emerges clearly throughout the exhibition.
A dialogue between contemporary photography and history
The exhibition takes on even greater significance because of its setting. The Museo degli Innocenti, a Renaissance masterpiece designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and a symbol of Florence’s long tradition of care and hospitality, provides an unexpected backdrop for Suissas’s images.
The dialogue between one of the most iconic buildings of the 15th century and such playful contemporary photography creates a fascinating encounter between past and present.
The museum’s historic rooms therefore become the ideal setting for an exhibition that invites visitors to reflect on the relationship between perception, imagination, and reality.
An artist followed around the world
In recent years, Hugo Suissas has established himself as one of the most original voices in contemporary photography, thanks in part to his strong social media presence. His Instagram profile, followed by hundreds of thousands of people, features new images each day that show how creativity, observation, and imagination can transform any place into something entirely unexpected.
His success comes precisely from his ability to surprise without altering reality. Each photograph is created through patient observation, careful study of perspective, and the search for the perfect composition.
A different experience in contemporary Florence
For those who wish to complement the great masterpieces of the Renaissance with an original cultural experience, the exhibition dedicated to Hugo Suissas is not to be missed.
After admiring the works of Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, this exhibition reminds us that contemporary creativity, too, has the power to surprise, inspire emotion, and change the way we see the world.
