Elevating High Fashion. Issey Miyake and Ensamble Studio Together at Fuorisalone 2026

Valorizzare l’alta sartoria. Issey Miyake e Ensamble Studio insieme al Fuorisalone 2026

Satoshi Kondo, a director at the Miyake Design Studio, has partnered with the Madrid-based architecture firm Ensamble Studio to explore the creative potential of the Paper Log, a byproduct of Issey Miyake's signature pleating process. The collaboration will culminate in an exhibition titled 'The Paper Log: Shell and Core' during the 2026 Fuorisalone in Milan, featuring prototype furniture and sculptural forms made from the compressed paper rolls and unfolded pleated paper.

In Milan during these days of Design Week, it is possible to visit the mythical Villa Pestarini by Franco Albini. The images

A Milano in questi giorni di Design Week è possibile visitare la mitica Villa Pestarini di Franco Albini. Le immagini

Villa Pestarini, the only private residence ever designed by the renowned Italian architect and designer Franco Albini, has opened to the public for the first time in 87 years. The opening is an exceptional event timed with the 2026 Milan Design Week, where the villa serves as one of the venues for the itinerant design platform Alcova.

Seeing with Heat: 5 Works Against the Thermal Camera's Gaze in Pavia

Vedere con il calore: a Pavia 5 opere contro lo sguardo della termocamera

The University of Pavia is hosting a specialized study day and exhibition on April 30, 2026, titled "Thermal Imaging and Visual Culture." The event explores how artists are reclaiming thermal imaging—a technology originally developed for military surveillance and pandemic control—to transform it into a medium for creative expression. By showcasing five specific works, the program examines the tension between the camera's role as a tool for dehumanized monitoring and its potential as a vehicle for artistic resistance.

Milan Design Week 2026: A Guide to What to See in the Isola District (Celebrating its 10th Anniversary)

Milano Design Week 2026: guida sulle cose da vedere al distretto di Isola (che compie 10 anni)

The Isola Design Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary during Milan Design Week 2026 with the theme "TEN: The Evolving Now." Originally founded to provide an affordable platform for independent and young designers, the festival has expanded from a local neighborhood initiative into a global organization with a permanent presence in Dubai. The 2026 edition centers on the historic Fabbrica Sassetti, a 1930s wool mill, alongside various venues across the Isola district including Fondazione Catella and Stecca3.

Two American artists have invented a pedal-powered basketball court that now arrives in Milan to regenerate the suburbs

Due artisti americani hanno inventato un campo da basket a pedali che ora arriva a Milano per rigenerare le periferie

Artists Marisa Morán Jahn and Rafi Segal, both faculty members at MIT, have brought their 'HOOPCycle' project to Milan for Design Week. The installation consists of a mobile basketball hoop mounted on a cargo bike, designed to transform urban spaces into spontaneous playgrounds and community hubs. This Italian iteration features backboards made from recycled plastic by the design collective IlVespaio and includes a vertical hoop inspired by the ancient Mesoamerican game of pok-ta-pok.

A young artist has designed exhaust pipes to be played like trumpets: A traveling concert in Milan

Un giovane artista ha progettato delle marmitte da suonare come trombe. A Milano il concerto itinerante

Emerging artist Aronne Pleuteri will debut a mobile performance titled "Mototrombe!" during Milan Art Week on April 17, 2026. The event features a parade of sound sculptures crafted from salvaged automotive exhaust pipes, which have been welded and reconfigured into hybrid instruments. Led by composer Dario Buccino, the procession will travel from Milan’s Central Station to the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where the sculptures will remain on display through April 26.

EducaImmagine returns to Rovereto: the festival on media use. The protagonists speak

A Rovereto torna EducaImmagine, il festival sull’uso dei media. Parlano i protagonisti

The EducaImmagine festival returns to Rovereto with its 2026 edition titled "Miraggi" (Mirages), focusing on the complex relationship between media consumption and the perception of reality. Led by artistic director Luca Ferrario, the event gathers a diverse group of experts—including artists, designers, psychologists, and content creators—to address the challenges of digital literacy and the potential for images to distort or amplify truth in the modern age.

The Forgotten of Art: The Story of Architect and Sculptor Pietro De Laurentiis

I dimenticati dell’arte. La storia dell’architetto e scultore Pietro De Laurentiis

The life and legacy of Pietro De Laurentiis, a multifaceted Italian architect, sculptor, and cultural activist, are being rediscovered through a retrospective look at his prolific career. Born into a peasant family in Abruzzo, De Laurentiis rose to prominence in Rome's mid-century art scene, balancing a forty-year teaching career at the Faculty of Architecture with significant public commissions, including bronze panels for the ACEA headquarters and marble works for INPS. His artistic style evolved from rural-inspired figuration to a unique geometric abstraction that blended Cubism with folk traditions.

The Flat Gallery in Milan Relocates: New 280 sqm Space Near Central Station

La galleria The Flat di Milano trasloca: nuovo spazio da 280 mq vicino alla Stazione Centrale

The Flat – Massimo Carasi gallery is relocating to a new 280-square-meter space near Milan’s Central Station after 18 years in the Porta Venezia district. To mark the opening on April 9, 2026, the gallery will present "Here… Now!", a group exhibition featuring artists such as Hiva Alizadeh, Michael Johansson, and Leonardo Ulian. The show serves as a retrospective of the gallery’s history since its founding in 2002, showcasing the experimental and international practices that define its program.

The Contemporary Lore: Sojourn of Styles and Generations Unfurled

The exhibition "The Contemporary Lore: Sojourn of Styles and Generations Unfurled" brings together 23 artists at various career stages, from senior practitioners to emerging voices, in a non-chronological display of paintings, sculptures, and mixed media. Curated by Kiran K. Mohan with a critical essay by art historian Johny ML, the show rejects linear art historical narratives in favor of a living conversation across generations, materials, and conceptual concerns. Featured artists include Anil Gaekwad, Ashok Bhowmick, Asit Patnaik, Bharti Prajapati, Bipin Kumar, Charudatt, Dilip Sharma, Haren Thakur, Harshwardhan Devtale, Hemraj, Jaikrishna Agarwal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Milan Das, Meenakshi Jha Banerjee, Mukesh Bijole, Nilisha Phad, Pandurang Thate, Prem Singh, Rakhi Kumar, Sanjay K. Srivastava, Sekhar Kar, Shaji Apukuttan, and Yusuf.

Lenke Rothman “Quality of Life” at Kunstverein in Hamburg

The Kunstverein in Hamburg is presenting "Quality of Life," the first comprehensive survey of Swedish Hungarian artist Lenke Rothman outside of Sweden. The exhibition spans Rothman's career from the 1950s until her death in 2008, showcasing her unique oeuvre that juxtaposes everyday life with her biographical and historical experiences, characterized by a radical processing of personal and collective memory.

Students Worked on Exhibit of Gowns Worn at La Scala by Maria Callas

Six opera gowns worn by Maria Callas onstage at La Scala in Milan are on display at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibition “Callas at La Scala.” The exhibition, located within the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, features costumes from roles including Anna Bolena and Ifigenia, alongside costume sketches by designers Nicola Benois and Piero Tosi and photographs of Callas. Students from the Corcoran School, guided by assistant professor Tanya Wetenhall, contributed by researching, writing labels, and installing the show, while ambassadors from Greece and Italy spoke at the opening.

A Firenze nasce la “nuova” istituzione GAMB che riunisce la Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze e i Musei del Bargello (con nuovo logo d’autore)

A new museum institution called GAMB (Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze e Musei del Bargello) has been established in Florence, unifying seven cultural sites under a single autonomous museum system. The sites include the Galleria dell’Accademia, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Orsanmichele, Casa Martelli, Palazzo Davanzati, Cappelle Medicee, and the former Church of San Procolo. A new visual identity designed by Milanese studio Migliore+Servetto features a pictogram that maps the geographic distribution of the venues, along with a custom typeface and color palette unique to each location. The launch also coincides with the start of a public restoration project for the base of Benvenuto Cellini’s *Perseo* at the Bargello, open to visitors from May 12 to September 5, 2026.

Franco Mazzucchelli, Champ Lacombe / Biarritz  by Gea Politi

Franco Mazzucchelli's exhibition at Champ Lacombe in Biarritz presents a medley of his public interventions from the 1970s, including inflatable sculptures like "Cono Rosso" (1973/2021), "Bieca Decorazione," and "Catena N.5 anelli." The show documents his practice of placing inflatables in public spaces without viewers knowing they were artworks, capturing reactions of curiosity, rage, and self-expression. The gallery space transforms these once-anti-monumental works into precarious monuments, now controlled within the art world's agenda.

A Milano c’è la prima mostra omaggio all’artista Giovanni Campus dopo la morte

BUILDING Gallery in Milan has opened "Tempo e passione," the first posthumous exhibition dedicated to Giovanni Campus (1929–2025), who died less than five months ago at nearly 100 years old. Curated by Marco Meneguzzo, the two-floor show spans Campus’s career from his Sardinian roots to his Milanese performances, featuring works that measure space using materials like springs and cords, alongside vintage video documentation of his actions in Piazza Palazzo Reale and Sardinia.

design formafantasma andrea trimarchi simone farresin

Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of Milan-based design studio Formafantasma have become fashion and art's go-to design duo. In the past year, they designed runways for Meryll Rogge's Marni debut, scenography for the new Fondation Cartier, and a radical take on the Shaker legacy for a show at the Vitra Design Museum. In an interview, they discuss their critical approach to design, the gap between design's progressive claims and its environmental and labor impacts, and their commitment to using design as a tool for inquiry rather than mere form-making.

Deodato Arte opens a new contemporary art gallery in L'Aquila

Deodato Arte, an Italian gallery group, has opened a new contemporary art gallery in L'Aquila, a city in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The new space aims to bring contemporary art to a historic city still recovering from the 2009 earthquake, expanding the gallery's presence beyond its existing locations in Milan and Pietrasanta.

Auctions of the week: ancient art, design and antiques

A busy week of auctions is scheduled for May 21-27, 2026, spanning Milan, New York, and other global hubs. Italian auction houses including FarsettiArte, Wannenes, Gonnelli, Finarte, Capitolium AuctionHouse, Pananti, Aste Bolaffi, Il Ponte, Maison Bibelot, Babuino Fine Art Auctions, and Pandolfini will offer paintings, drawings, sculptures, antiques, design, jewelry, and vintage fashion. International houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Bonhams - Cornette de Saint-Cyr, and Dorotheum also hold sales in New York, Zurich, Paris, and Vienna, covering post-war and contemporary art, handbags, fine wine, and antiques.

Discover contemporary works across styles and generations by 23 artists at this exhibition in New Delhi

An exhibition titled "The Contemporary Lore: Sojourn of Styles and Generations Unfurled" has opened in New Delhi, featuring works by 23 artists across different career stages and artistic styles. Curated by Kiran K. Mohan with a critical essay by art historian Johny ML, the show includes paintings, sculptures, and mixed media by artists such as Anil Gaekwad, Ashok Bhowmick, Harshwardhan Devtale, and others. The display is deliberately non-chronological, aiming to foster dialogue between seasoned practitioners and emerging voices.

Local artist’s new exhibit captures Florida’s quiet contradictions

Painter Bill Gallagher opens his solo exhibition “The State of Florida” on May 2 at Jane’s Art Center in New Smyrna Beach, featuring a new body of realistic oil paintings that capture everyday Florida scenes—cafés, coastlines, parking lots, sidewalks, and public spaces. The works explore subtle tensions between presence and distraction, connection and isolation, using a classical realist approach to transform the state into a psychological stage. Gallagher, who began exhibiting in his 20s in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Milan, left the gallery world for a successful advertising career before returning to painting two years ago, earning multiple awards including first place at the Artists’ Workshop NSB Members Show for his painting “Release.”

Group Efforts Succeed During Milan Design Week

Milan Design Week has become a primary stage for high-profile creative collaborations, where independent designers and major brands pool resources to debut experimental works. These partnerships range from limited-edition furniture collections to immersive installations, highlighting a shift toward collective production in the design industry.

At Milan Design Week, Function and Form Take on New Meanings

Milan Design Week has transformed the Italian city into a sprawling showcase of avant-garde furniture and experimental objects. This year's highlights include whimsical, kinetic installations such as a spinning Christmas tree and sculptural tables designed to mimic the organic forms of flowers, pushing the boundaries between utilitarian furniture and fine art.

At Milan Design Week, Creative Seating Brings Fresh Ideas to the Table

Milan Design Week has unveiled a series of innovative seating concepts that challenge traditional forms of furniture. Highlighting the intersection of sculpture and utility, the showcase features standout pieces including a crisp, minimalist couch, a monolithic chair, and a playful pouf, all of which demonstrate how contemporary designers are rethinking the ergonomics and aesthetics of reclining.

A Fountain of Creativity from Arid Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has launched a significant design exhibition in Milan, showcasing a collection that blends the nation's ancient cultural traditions with contemporary aesthetics. The showcase features works inspired by the arid landscapes and rich artisanal history of the Central Asian republic, marking a deliberate effort to export its unique creative identity to a global audience during a major international design moment.

At Milan Design Week, Noodling Around With an Italian Classic

Milan Design Week is hosting a provocative exhibition centered on the intersection of technology and culinary tradition through 3-D-printed pasta. The showcase features a variety of experimental shapes and textures that challenge conventional manufacturing methods, presenting pasta not just as food, but as a feat of precision engineering and industrial design.

Rigenerare Roma: in arrivo un numero speciale della newsletter Render. Iscrivetevi

The article announces the upcoming 58th edition of Artribune's newsletter 'Render', focused on urban and cultural regeneration, set to be released on Monday, May 25, 2026. It highlights the winning project 'Roma Continua' from the 'A Vision for Rome' call for ideas promoted by Fondazione Roma REgeneration, led by architects Alessandro Cambi and Bruna Dominici of studio IT'S, in collaboration with OMA, LGSMA, OKRA, NET Engineering, and others. The second-place project 'New Times New Roma' is also mentioned, involving groups like From, Fosbury Architecture, and BASE Milano. The newsletter also covers new regeneration projects across Italy and Europe, and notes the upcoming 20th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice.

BASE cultural center in Milan turns 10: the full program for the big celebrations

Il centro culturale BASE di Milano compie 10 anni: tutto il programma per i grandi festeggiamenti

BASE, the cultural center in Milan's former Ansaldo industrial complex, celebrates its 10th anniversary on May 23, 2025, with a 16-hour event called FIESTAS. The program runs from noon to 5 a.m. and includes performances, workshops, concerts, installations, and shared practices by artists such as MOMBAO, Stalker Teatro, Klaus, Francesca Grilli, Nazario Graziano, Michele Rizzo, and many others. The event also launches BASE's first summer season, keeping the center open throughout the summer months.

Urban art and music unite Amsterdam and Milan for three days

L’arte urbana e la musica uniscono Amsterdam e Milano per tre giorni

MUROMi, an independent Milan-based company, is launching a special Milan edition of Here&Now, a cultural event originally created in Amsterdam by Tony Ant and Chinny Bond. Taking place May 21–23, 2026, at Spazio Diaz in Milan, the event combines live painting, music, and contemporary urban art, aiming to bring together creatives, brands, and key figures from the Milanese scene. The project is born from a collaboration between MUROMi and the Here&Now community, which is rooted in international street culture and music.

Milan Depaves: A New Garden Arrives to Combine Sustainability and Culture

Milano si depavimenta: sta per arrivare un nuovo giardino per tenere insieme sostenibilità e cultura

Construction will begin in the coming weeks on Giardino Manifesto, an urban regeneration project at the historic Milanese cultural space Santeria Toscana 31. Presented on May 19, 2026, with Mayor Giuseppe Sala, Gruppo CAP President Yuri Santagostino, and architect Cristiana Cutrona of ReValue, the initiative transforms a fully paved external area into a green infrastructure applying sponge city (SUDS) principles. The design includes rain gardens, drainage surfaces, a rain-collecting amphitheater, and a sensory garden, aiming to reduce flood risk and lower perceived temperatures by up to 4-5°C through de-paving and resilient vegetation.

Roma insiste sulla rigenerazione urbana: Stefano Boeri trasforma un ex deposito di bus in oasi verde per uffici, commerci e cultura

Stefano Boeri Architetti has been commissioned to transform a former ATAC bus depot in Rome's Prati-Delle Vittorie district into a multifunctional hub called Depositi delle Vittorie. The project, owned by the family behind the Fondazione Memmo, will convert the 16,000-square-meter disused site into a mixed-use complex featuring commercial, cultural, and leisure spaces, along with a 8,000-square-meter rooftop park suspended 15 meters high that will host art installations. Construction is set to begin in late 2027 and conclude by 2030.