Cultured magazine has compiled a guide to art exhibitions worth visiting during Milan Design Week 2026, beyond the main Salone del Mobile fair. Featured shows include Rirkrit Tiravanija's first retrospective at Pirelli HangarBicocca, Cao Fei's exploration of smart agriculture at Fondazione Prada, Anselm Kiefer's dual exhibitions at Palazzo Reale and Lia Rumma Gallery, Gabrielle Goliath's painting show at Galleria Raffaella Cortese, and Dozie Kanu's mirroring of Marc Camille Chaimowicz at Fondazione ICA Milano.
This guide matters because it highlights how Milan Design Week has become a major moment for contemporary art, drawing global audiences who might otherwise focus solely on design. The exhibitions address urgent themes—from AI and agriculture to war, mourning, and historical memory—while also showcasing major international artists. Notably, Gabrielle Goliath's show gains extra significance due to her recent exclusion from the Venice Biennale over her work's engagement with the Gaza conflict, adding a layer of political urgency to the art-viewing experience.