From January 29 to May 17, 2026, Palazzo Reale in Milan will host the exhibition Robert Mapplethorpe. The Forms of Desire, an extensive and unprecedented exhibition that brings together some of the most celebrated works by the American photographer, considered one of the most original, refined and controversial artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, curated by Denis Curti, is part of the cultural program of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games and offers the public an opportunity to rediscover Mapplethorpe’s artistic language through a selection of works that testify to the photographer’s aesthetic power and aesthetic research.
The retrospective represents the second chapter of a larger trilogy that began in Venice, at Le Stanze della Fotografia, and now comes to Milan and will conclude in Rome. Each stage delves into a different aspect of the artist’s research. The Milan appointment takes visitors on a journey through his aesthetic vision, among his sensual nudes that recall the harmony and physical tension of classical forms, in a sort of modern Olympic mimesis.
Enriching the exhibition is the Mapplethorpe Unframed podcast-written and hosted by Nicolas Ballario and available from Oct. 21 on Spotify, Apple Music and major platforms-along with the catalog published by Marsilio Arte, which delves into the evolution of the photographer’s visual language through 257 works.
The initiative is promoted by the City of Milan - Culture, produced by Palazzo Reale and Marsilio Arte, in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation in New York.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday until 10:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
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| Some of Robert Mapplethorpe's most celebrated works will arrive at the Palazzo Reale in Milan. |
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