What happens when the irreverent energy of street art meets the sacredness of a thousand-year-old monastery? From April 13 to May 11, 2025, the Monastery of Polirone in San Benedetto Po, in the province of Mantua, transforms into an unexpected contemporary stage with Timeless Icons, the largest exhibition ever held in a public space by JISBAR, a leading figure in international pop-street art.
More than 25 previously unseen works find their place within the Renaissance walls of the monastic Refectory, creating a powerful dialogue between past and present. The project is curated by Sandie Zanini and organized by Zanini Arte, a company that for over a century has bridged classical collecting with daring experimentation, including certified digital art on the blockchain.
Born in France in 1989, JISBAR (aka Jean-Baptiste Launay) is known for his visual mash-ups that forever reinterpret icons like the Mona Lisa, The Birth of Venus, or David. In his works, each masterpiece becomes a canvas for layering messages, lettering, logos, punk details, and references to pop and sports culture. The result? Classical icons that speak the language of our time.
The exhibition is divided into three sections: it starts with Classical Art, celebrating great masters of Italian art – from Botticelli to Canova – then moves into the legends of 20th-century art, from Warhol to Basquiat. It all ends in a burst of pop culture: from Michael Jordan to Kate Moss, with stops at Tarantino, Ferrari, and Rolex.
One artwork in particular proves how far JISBAR is from being labeled a “simple street artist”: in 2019, on the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, his version of the Mona Lisa was launched 33.4 km into the stratosphere. A poetic and provocative gesture that perfectly sums up the ambition behind his work.
Choosing San Benedetto Po – a place once walked by figures like Martin Luther and Torquato Tasso – is no coincidence. It confirms that JISBAR’s work thrives in contrast: between Correggio’s frescoes and digital graffiti, between the Three Graces and Freddie Mercury. A perfectly orchestrated short-circuit that makes Timeless Icons a must-see for anyone curious to discover what happens when the sacred meets pop.
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