Charlotte’s next big arts opening ends with a choice. At Leonardo versus Michelangelo: The Epic Battle of Genius, visitors move through the lives and work of two Renaissance artists, then cast a vote for the one who wins them over.
The exhibition opens to the public Thursday, November 12, at Stage 1 at Blume Studios and runs through March 27, 2027. Blumenthal Arts is presenting the North American premiere with Barcelona-based Layers of Reality, the studio behind the experience.
For Charlotte, the opening also begins a longer relationship. In its September announcement, Blumenthal said the partnership would bring Layers of Reality productions to Blume Studios through 2027. A former industrial site in the Iron District is becoming a place where international digital-art projects can settle in for months rather than pass through for a single evening.
A rivalry you can walk through
The exhibition takes its cue from Leonardo and Michelangelo’s competing commissions for Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio. Its central question is deliberately personal: after looking at their lives, methods and work, whose side would you take?
Blumenthal describes a roughly 90-minute route through eight rooms, using large-scale projections, theatrical storytelling, interactive galleries and virtual reality. In “Florence 1500,” the planned 360-degree VR experience takes visitors into a reconstruction of the city and the artists’ studios. “Contrasting Biographies” draws on the idea of Renaissance studiolos, the private study rooms associated with learning and collecting.
Another section, “Battle Royale,” puts visitors in a virtual museum and asks them to make choices about the works they encounter. The journey culminates in “The Moment of Truth,” where the audience chooses Team Leonardo or Team Michelangelo.
That voting structure gives a group something specific to talk about afterward. A favorite painting, an artist’s working process and the way a life is presented may pull people in different directions. You can arrive with a familiar name in mind and still have a reason to look closely at the other artist.
What kind of visit to expect
The announced experience is a digital interpretation of art and history, built around projections, recreated environments and participation. Readers looking for a traditional exhibition of original Renaissance paintings should bear that format in mind. QCB has not reviewed the Charlotte installation; this preview is based on the organizers’ published plans and visitor information.
Blume Studios gives that format room to expand. The venue occupies a reimagined industrial space on the former Charlotte Pipe and Foundry site, between Uptown and South End. Its Stage 1 is designed for large-scale installations, while Stage 2 hosts more intimate performance-driven experiences. For this visit, the destination is Stage 1.
Before you book
When: November 12, 2026, through March 27, 2027. Choose a dated entry time on the official event page; the run dates do not mean the exhibition operates every day.
Where: Blume Studios, 904 Post Street, Charlotte. The venue lists free parking on site.
Time: Allow approximately 90 minutes for the experience. The event FAQ recommends arriving five minutes before your selected visit time.
Tickets: Blumenthal’s September announcement listed individual adult tickets starting at $23. Check the current dated ticket option and final total before purchasing; that advertised starting price is not a guarantee for every session.
Access and photographs: The event FAQ says the space is adapted for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility, and that VR headsets can be worn over prescription glasses. Photography is permitted without flash. Ask the venue about any specific sensory or VR-related requirements before booking.
Official event details and tickets · Blume Studios visitor information
Sources checked November 10, 2026: Blumenthal Arts’ event listing, venue guide and September 14 announcement, plus Layers of Reality’s project description. Dates and visitor policies can change.
Cover artwork is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of the exhibition.
