Duomo di Milano from the Piazza del Duomo, Ian Dagnall / Alamy Stock Photo
Phillips is thrilled — as part of our growing commitment to Europe — to reaffirm our connection to the Milan market with a beautiful permanent new office and exhibition space in the heart of the old city. Here, our specialists Carolina Lanfranchi and Margherita Solaini share their excitement about Modern and Contemporary Art in Milan — per amore dell'arte.
Phillips’ new exhibition space and office in Milan on Via Lanzone, with Carolina Lanfranchi, Phillips’ Regional Director & Margherita Solaini, Specialist, pictured in front of two works by Lucio Fontana, to be offered in Phillips upcoming 20th Century & Contemporary Art Auctions in October in London and November in New York.
Milan’s Growing Vitality as an Art City
As one of Europe’s most important historic commercial centers, Milan is a tapestry, layered with centuries upon centuries of great art and architecture — and a teeming abundance of 20th Century and Modern Art masterpieces.
The artists who are perhaps most iconic of the history, culture, and attitude of the city are Lucio Fontana, Enrico Castellani, Agostino Bonalumi, and Piero Manzoni. As interest in them and newer generations of Italian artists increases, the Milan market has been building strong momentum.
Big international galleries such as Javier Peres and newer names such as Tommaso Calabro have landed in Milan recently. And MiArt launched here last year as a world-class international art fair — it takes place in April and is followed immediately by Design Week. Milan is happening.
Phillips in Italy
The new Milan Offices in a 16th-century palazzo on Via Lanzone will support Phillips’ long-term and commanding presence in Italy. The space is sumptuous. The façade is the only part of the building that survived the aerial bombings of WWII. The interior was remade by important Post-war architect and furniture designer Luigi Caccia Dominioni to impart a timeless, modern elegance. Notably, Phillips worked closely with his daughter and granddaughter to furnish the space in homage to his original vision.
Phillips will inaugurate the space with an exhibition from 13 to 15 September featuring highlights of Phillips’ 20th Century & Contemporary Art auctions in London in October and New York in November.
The Beautiful Contrast of Old and New
Often, Modern & Contemporary Art in Milan is presented against the historic architectural backdrop of antique Milanese palazzos. Recently, Massimo De Carlo moved into a beautiful vintage 1930s space designed by Pietro Portaluppi. Peres Projects has taken up residence in the Neoclassical 18th-century Palazzo Belgioioso. And a group of historic galleries including Christian Stein, Gariboldi, Visconti and the Lucio Fontana Foundation have laid claim on the Palazzo Cicogna, which dates back to the Rennaissance.
Other collections are presented in vintage domestic settings, such as La Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano, which is in the collector’s original period Art Deco apartment.
Design Is Woven into the Fabric of Milan
A very tangible example of the strong bond between art and design is Palazzo dell’Arengario, a project by Pietro Portaluppi, Giovanni Muzio, Gualtiero Galmanini, Vico Magistretti and Enrico Griffini — with the façade decorated by the artist Arturo Martini. It was recently renovated to host the Museo del Novecento.
Design and modern/contemporary art are very tightly linked together in Milan as artists and designers in the Post-war era often worked together and hung out at places like Bar Giamaica in Brera, which is still one of the best places to have a drink in town.
Where to See What
For the Futurists and Post-War Italian art, visit Museo del Novecento. For Contemporary art, go to Fondazione Prada and Hangar Bicocca, which often present important works of international art. Or, to discover emerging stars of the Milanese scene, visit ICA. Also recommended is Pinacoteca di Brera.
Villa Panza in Varese, managed by FAI, is a wonderful institution with a permanent collection and temporary international exhibitions. Chiesa Rossa is a very special, lesser-known neighbourhood of Milan that hosts a permanent installation of Dan Flavin in a church, which is sponsored by the Fondazione Prada.
For design, there is the Trienniale Design Museum in the Palazzo dell'Arte, which was designed by Giovanni Muzio. You will not be disappointed by the stunning variety of Modern masterpieces.
Sophistication in All Things
In art, design, and fashion — throughout the 20th century and now more than ever— Milan has been globally synonymous with sophistication par excellence. Milan is famously one of the world’s fashion capitols. In Italy, fashion brands are often family business, such as Prada, Max Mara, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Missoni, etc — and they are usually big art collectors. Two of the most important such art foundations are Fondazione Prada (Prada) in Milan and Collezione Maramotti (Max Mara) in Reggio Emilia. Italian taste is celebrated in all the world's great cultural capitals. In Milan, you see it all around you, every day.
Food and Drink
Our pick for the best risotto alla Milanese in the world is La Pesa restaurant. For a fantastic experience, go to Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada. Notably, it was designed by Wes Anderson. We also recommend LùBar (next to the PAC|Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea) for its modern Sicilian vibes; Fioraio Bianchi in Brera from morning to night; and Bar Basso for the best negroni in town.
The List: in Order of Appearance
1. Phillips
Via Lanzone, 2, 20123 Milano
2. Peres Projects
Piazza Belgioioso, 2, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
3. Tommaso Calabro
Piazza S. Sepolcro, 2, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
4. MiArt Art Fair
12–14 April, 2024 at Allianz MiCo, Viale Lodovico Scarampo, Hall 3, Milan
5. Massimo De Carlo
Viale Lombardia, 17, 20131 Milano MI, Italy
6. Christian Stein
Corso Monforte, 23, 20122 Milano MI, Italy
7. Studio Gariboldi
Corso Monforte, 23, 20122 Milano MI, Italy
8. Studio Giangaleazzo Visconti
Corso Monforte, 23, 20122 Milano MI, Italy
9. Fondazione Lucio Fontana
Corso Monforte, 23, 20122 Milano MI, Italy
10. La Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano
Via Giorgio Jan, 15, 20129 Milano MI, Italy
11. Museo del Novecento
In the Palazzo dell’Arengario, Piazza del Duomo, 8–14, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
12. Bar Giamaica
Via Brera, 32, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
13. Fondazione Prada
L.go Isarco, 2, 20139 Milano MI, Italy
14. Hangar Bicocca
Via Chiese, 2, 20126 Milano MI, Italy
15. Fondazione ICA Milano
Via Orobia, 26, 20139 Milano MI, Italy
16. Pinacoteca di Brera
Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
17.Villa Panza
Piazza Litta, 1, 21100 Varese VA, Italy
18. Permanent Dan Flavin installation at S. Maria Annunciata in Chiesa Rossa
Via Neera, 24, 20141 Milano MI, Italy
19. Trienniale Design Museum
Viale Emilio Alemagna, 6, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
20. Collezione Maramotti
Via Fratelli Cervi, 66, 42124 Reggio Emilia RE, Italy
21. Trattoria La Pesa dal 1902
Via Giovanni Fantoni, 26, 20148 Milano MI, Italy
22. Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada
L.go Isarco, 2, 20139 Milano MI, Italy
23. LùBar
Via Palestro, 16, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
24. PAC | Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea
Via Palestro, 14, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
25. Fioraio Bianchi Caffè
Via Montebello, 7, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
26. Bar Basso
Via Plinio, 39, 20133 Milano MI, Italy
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