Are you in Milan in May and looking for something to do? Were you left behind during the Design Week, and you are now wondering where everybody went? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Here’s a selection of things you can do in Milan, both digital and cultural. They’re based on my taste. Meaning that, if I missed something, you can try and tell me but I don’t guarantee I’ll want to include it, alright? Good.
Digital
AI Week 2025
Fiera Milano Rho
May 13–14 (in-person), May 12, 15–16 (online)
AI WEEK 2025 is set to be Europe’s premier artificial intelligence gathering, featuring over 250 international speakers across 10 stages. Highlights include a keynote by Zack Kass, former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, and sessions on generative AI, Midjourney, and AI applications in business and sustainability. The event offers both in-person and online experiences, providing a comprehensive look into the future of AI.
I’ll get into more detail around May, 10th. Meanwhile, you can take a look at the event’s website.
Cultural
Inequalities, Triennale Milano
May 13 – November 9, 2025
The Triennale’s 24th International Exhibition: “Inequalities” engages with global perspectives on inequality through contributions from designers, architects, and artists worldwide. The exhibition invites reflection on contemporary social challenges.
I’ll catch it next month.
I am Leonor Fini, Palazzo Reale
Until June 22, 2025
Explore the surreal and powerful imagery of Leonor Fini, an artist known for challenging traditional gender constructs. This exhibition showcases her visionary works, highlighting her contributions to the surrealist movement. I talked about her here.
The Seduction of Colour: Andrea Solario and Renaissance between Italy and France, Museo Poldi Pezzoli
March 26 – June 30, 2025
This landmark exhibition celebrates the 500th anniversary of Andrea Solario’s death with an unprecedented collection of around 30 works from major institutions in Italy, France, and the UK. Curated in collaboration with the Musée du Louvre, it explores the Lombard painter’s refined technique, influenced by Bellini, Antonello da Messina, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Visitors will journey through Solario’s artistic evolution—from youthful experiments to mature masterpieces—enhanced by diagnostic imaging and recent restorations. This fusion of art, science, and history offers a rare glimpse into the Renaissance through vibrant colours and intricate techniques.
This exhibition is a must-see for Renaissance enthusiasts and anyone passionate about the dialogue between art and scientific discovery.
Esodo Pratelli, from Futurism to the “Novecento” and beyond. Centro Culturale di Milano, Largo Corsia dei Servi 4
Until May 13, 2025
The cultural centre is an unfortunately shallow space, seemingly abandoned, right in the centre of a square, a stone’s throw from Duomo, but it’s not their fault. It’s the original architect, no other than Caccia Dominoni, who designed the space with no regard for the surroundings. They always have a fine selection of events, and this exhibition is no exception.
The elegant retrospective curated by Elena Pontiggia retraces the eclectic and intense career of Esodo Pratelli, a key figure of early 20th-century Italian art. With over 50 works on display, the exhibition spans Pratelli’s stylistic transitions—from realism and symbolism, through futurism, and into the Novecento Italiano movement. Visitors will encounter oil paintings, temperas, watercolours, ceramics, and even set designs for opera. Highlights include the vibrant Frammento della primavera (1913), a futurist explosion of forms, and delicate pieces like Maternità (1922), reflecting his pursuit of modern classicism. Pratelli’s relationships with key avant-garde figures like Marinetti, Carrà, and Sironi are also explored.
Both? Both is Good
Sabrina Ratté’s Realia, MEET Digital Culture Center (Viale Vittorio Veneto 2)
Until June 1, 2025
Curated by Maria Grazia Mattei, this immersive solo exhibition by Canadian visual artist Sabrina Ratté explores the convergence of nature, technology, and speculative futures. As part of MEET’s “MEET the Nature” program, Realia invites visitors into hybrid ecosystems where digital aesthetics and organic elements blend into post-anthropocenic landscapes.
The exhibition includes a selection of installations using 3d scans, analogue pieces, video synthesisers, AI, and animation.
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