The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center will be closing out the 2023 year with a new century-spanning exhibit, “Everyone’s Name is I” by New Orleans native artist sørenVANDEGAARD.

The exhibition featuring 20 textured paintings opens on Thursday, November 30 on the second-floor gallery, and will remain available for viewing until Saturday, February 3.

VANDEGAARD is an internationally acclaimed artist based in Maastricht, Netherlands. However, the pieces – 19 on canvas and one on wood panel – included in “Everyone’s Name is I” were created in New York City.

“Everyone’s Name is I” reimagines works from the Venetian Renaissance through an intimate and contemporary lens. VANDEGAARD said that each painting is a “heartfelt homage” to Renaissance master Tintoretto, the mind behind paintings like “Pilate Presents Christ to the Crow” and “The Supper at Emmaus.”

He was inspired to reinterpret the narratives that Tintoretto weaved after visiting the Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy. There, he connected with the way Tintoretto’s work depicted human stories and experiences and decided to reinterpret those narratives, “establishing a connection that spans over 500 years.” His goal is to encourage museum-goers to “recognize the enduring connections that bind us to the past and to each other.”

According to a release, VANDEGAARD utilizes a “distinctive technique involving colored paper and polyurethane” to craft “mesmerizing textures and vibrant hues” that add texture, depth and “a sense of tactile storytelling” to each piece. He said that this method allows viewers to immerse themselves in the paintings, fully experiencing each piece and the human stories they tell.

An opening reception will be hosted by VANDEGAARD and the Historic City Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 30.

The reception is free and open to the public.