Altered States of Peel

Cryptid Art Space and Planet Potassium present

ALTERED STATES OF PEEL
Exhibition by João Reis

November 2–14, 2026

“Ladies and gentlemen… a warning before we begin!!!

You may think you know what awaits you. You may believe you’ve already seen the strangest thing Planet Potassium has to offer. But tonight, dear visitors, we are heading into darker territory. A world of warped fantasies, monstrous creations and curious marvels. A world where the familiar takes on a sinister face, nightmares creep out from beneath the banana peel, and the line between the absurd and the horrifying begins to blur.

What awaits you is not for the faint of heart. So if you scare easily, it may be best to leave now. And everyone else… come a little closer.

Welcome to “Altered States of Peel” — a journey through the strange, the eerie and the uncanny. We hope you enjoy what lies ahead. And if the sights you are about to witness unsettle you…

Well, dear visitors… you were warned!!!”

/João Reis/

João Reis is a Portuguese graphic designer and illustrator based in Sofia, Bulgaria. In his work, he explores the intersections of illustration, graphic design and visual storytelling, drawing inspiration from vintage cinema, classic animation, retro comics, surrealism and the visual culture of the first half and mid-20th century.

With bold compositions, rich textures, striking characters and a playful sense of absurdity, his images move between the familiar and the strange, often reimagining nostalgic visual references through a contemporary lens.

Alongside his independent projects in illustration and poster art, he also develops Planet Potassium — a long-term personal project that builds an alternative universe in which bananas take the place of people. There, cultural references, imagined characters and surreal humour intertwine into a distinctive visual world.

Through his practice, João explores the expressive potential of the image, creating visual narratives that spark curiosity, challenge expectations and celebrate the unusual.

Opening: November 2, 6:30–8:30 pm
Cryptid Art Space (Sofia, 1 Dimitar Traykovich St.)