Son of Lélia Wanick Salgado and photographer Sebastião Salgado, 45-year-old Rodrigo Salgado is a singular artist. Born with Down’s syndrome, he has been painting since childhood with a rare intensity, every day, often at dawn, sometimes even in the middle of the night. His work, built up over the years, reflects a sensitive, vibrant and constantly evolving vision.

In Reims, the former Sacré-Cœur church, now desecrated and home to the Simon-Marq stained glass workshop, is hosting an exceptional exhibition of his creations. Sixteen of his works will be transposed into stained glass, in dialogue with the site.

At the same time, around 80 of Rodrigo’s paintings – and a few sculptures – will be on display in the church. This deeply sensitive project is much more than just an exhibition: it’s a project for the soul, at the crossroads of art and the love that parents feel for their child. A child who, every day, expresses himself solely with his heart.

The plastic quality of Rodrigo’s works on show in this exhibition is strikingly intense. This exhibition is part of a new dynamic driven by the studio’s new team, in collaboration with the chairmen Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger and Philippe Varin, surrounded by the studio’s many shareholders, who include members of the Simon family who are committed to the arts, heritage and culture. Together, they are breathing new life into this heritage site by opening it up to powerful and singular contemporary artistic expression.

Rodrigo’s painting mirrors his inner journey. Very colourful at the beginning, when he was more independent, it went through a darker phase with the appearance of signs of premature ageing. "He used to cry a lot when his painting started to get darker. We had the impression that he knew he was losing his memory", says Sebastião Salgado. Despite this, he never stopped creating. ‘He always painted,’ confirms Lélia Wanick Salgado. His style has changed: today, his apparently simpler doodles are still strikingly expressive. Rodrigo has also tried his hand at music, with great enthusiasm. He loves the piano and the guitar, and works with his teachers, not in search of performance, but with a sincere passion. The artist Michel Granger, who has accompanied Rodrigo in his discovery of painting in the form of workshops, has written a text on his work for this unique exhibition.

A plunge into a rich and unvarnished inner world.

Event organised as part of the Brazil-France 2025 Season,
in partnership with Maison Taittinger

Exhibition of paintings, sculptures and stained glass
Rodrigo, an artist’s life
27 May > 10 September 2025
Atelier Simon-Marq, Reims

Price: 6 euros, by reservation

Tuesday to Saturday
27 May 2025 to 10 September
10am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm
Except public holidays: 29 May, 9 June, 14 July and 15 August.

How to reserve:
By reservation only
By telephone: 03 52 74 00 11
By email: visites@vitrauxsimonmarq.com
Via the link:my.weezevent.com/rodrigo-salgado-dessiner-la-lumiere

Access:
Atelier Simon-Marq
Église du Sacré-cœur
48 rue Ernest Renan
51100 Reims