The exhibitions to see in May in Italy

The sun is high in the sky and, with the arrival of May, we’re ready to enjoy our free time in every possible way, strolling through the city, planning a day trip, or visiting a museum. The dreamiest among us are already envisioning summer, the sea, and the beaches. And so is art, offering exhibitions that evoke the mood of lazy, sun-drenched days. The Magnani-Rocca Foundation, located in a newly restored English-style park, explores the “floral” masterpieces of great artists from the 20th century to today; while in Riccione, the sea and the beach, symbols of escape and freedom, are the inspiration behind the works of Magnum photographers, from Ferdinando Scianna to Martin Parr. Those seeking something a bit more glamorous shouldn’t miss the exhibition of Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture collections, showcased for the first time at Armani/Silos in Milan, or the show dedicated to the art of Roberto Capucci at Villa Pisani, in the province of Venice. And photography lovers? They might want to plan a trip with stops in Turin, home to two solo exhibitions, one on Norman Parkinson and the other on Carrie Mae Weems; Pisa, to see 500 photographic portraits collected by Oliviero Toscani over the years; and Palermo, to admire the nature photography of Cristina Mittermeier, who is also a marine biologist and activist. Among the many art events, we also highlight the initiative “40 Artists for Gaza”. On Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM, the L.Oc.K. space in Milan will host a special evening to raise funds in support of aid projects for the people of Gaza. The event will feature an auction of works by Elena Salmistraro, Stefano Arienti, Eva Marisaldi, Ettore Favini, Jacopo Benassi, and many others.

Exhibitions to See in Italy This May

Giorgio Armani - Milan

A true dream for fashion lovers: imagine all the most elegant and refined gowns designed by Giorgio Armani for Haute Couture gathered in one place. That’s exactly what you’ll find if you visit the Armani/Silos on Via Bergognone 40 in Milan from May 21 onward, when the public exhibition Giorgio Armani Privé 2005–2025 opens, a tribute to twenty years of Haute Couture from the brand, entirely curated by Armani himself. It features around 150 unique pieces, created for an elite clientele and worn at the most exclusive events and red carpets. The exhibit is designed as an immersive experience that highlights precious fabrics, embroidery, handmade details, expert craftsmanship, and the grace of the silhouettes. India, China, Polynesia, Japan, Africa, ikat patterns, chartreuse tones, pearls, tailored jackets, flowing evening dresses, light, harmony, cinema, and dreams, all the signature elements of the Maison come to life before visitors' eyes. “Privé is a celebration of beauty and the skill of the hands that create it; of experimentation that enlightens and inspires,” Armani said of his Haute Couture line. He added, “It’s the story of another Armani, freer and more sparkling,  but still the same Armani everyone knows.” To understand that, the place to be is Armani/Silos.

Title: Giorgio Armani Privé 2005-2025

When: From May 21 until the end of the year 

Where: Armani/Silos, Milan

Carrie Mae Weems - Turin

Titled The Heart of the Matter, the exhibition dedicated to Carrie Mae Weems runs until September 7, 2025, at Le Gallerie d’Italia in Turin. For those who don’t yet know her, it’s the perfect opportunity to discover a remarkable artist driven by a visceral need: to portray “tangible invisibility,” because, as she says, “This invisibility, this erasure from the complex story of our lives and our time, is the greatest source of my longing.” The space at Piazza San Carlo 156 hosts a selection of over 100 works that trace Weems’ career, touching on the key themes of her work — still deeply relevant in American society (and beyond): cultural identity; racial, class, and gender conflicts; the relationship between power, identity, and history; inclusion; marginalized communities; African descent; and the representation of the Black female body. At the heart of the exhibition is Preach, an installation commissioned by Gallerie d’Italia that explores the spirituality and religious practices of African American descendants across generations, inspired by the history of hush harbours. Also featured are some of her most famous works, such as Kitchen Table Series, a set of self-portraits of the artist and her family that delve into the lived experiences of Black American women, celebrating their courage, complexity, strength, and beauty.

Title: Carrie Mae Weems-The Heart of the Matter

When: Until September 7, 2025 

Where: Gallerie d’Italia, Turin

Giorgio de Chirico - Sarzana

Planning a trip to Liguria? How about some sea, focaccia, and a visit to the Firmafede Fortress in Sarzana, in the province of La Spezia, for the exhibition Giorgio de Chirico. The Metaphysics of Creation? It explores the last ten years of the Roman artist’s life and his connection to the creative phase of Neometaphysics, during which he reinterpreted his early metaphysical period while incorporating influences from his works of the 1920s and 1930s. The exhibition reveals a renewed creative energy and a conscious, innovative approach to art. It focuses in particular on the lithographs produced in collaboration with printer Alberto Caprini. Visitors can admire 50 works in total, including paintings, works on paper, and sculptures, all from the Giorgio and Isa de Chirico Foundation in Rome. The exhibition also features some of the most significant paintings from the 1960s and 1970s, along with several reinterpretations of The Troubadour, one of the most fascinating variations on the theme of mannequins.

Title: Giorgio de Chirico. La Metafisica della creazione

When: Until July 21, 2025

Where: Firmafede Fortress, Sarzana

Magnum Photographers and the Beach - Riccione

The sea and the beach, as interpreted by the great masters of international photography, await visitors at Villa Mussolini in Riccione, until October 5, 2025. A perfect way to get into the summer spirit and explore the many facets of beach life, from everyday moments to spontaneity, freedom, and powerful emotions, through the lenses of eight great Magnum photographers. The exhibition opens with documentary-style shots of Riccione from 1989 by Ferdinando Scianna and closes with the energetic, dynamic beachscapes of Trent Parke. In between? Bruno Barbey’s depiction of Chinese mass beach tourism; Bruce Gilden’s eccentric beach culture in Coney Island; Harry Gruyaert’s subdued beauty of the North Sea; Newsha Tavakolian’s intimate and humanistic approach on the Caspian Sea; and Olivia Arthur’s photographs of Indian beaches and Mumbai. And of course, Martin Parr’s vibrantly colored images of British seaside culture are not to be missed.

Titolo: Mare Magnum. Da Ferdinando Scianna a Martin Parr. I fotografi Magnum e le spiagge

When: Until October 5, 2025

Where: Villa Mussolini, Riccione

Roberto Capucci - Stra

“Fashion is not ornament; it is architecture. A dress should not only be beautiful, it must be built like a palace, because like a palace, it is the materialization of an idea.” This was how Roberto Capucci, called “the best creator of Italian fashion, a prodigy” by Christian Dior in 1956, described his work. Tailor, designer, sculptor, no one like him has ever shaped, constructed, and experimented with fabric, playing with volume, pleats, ruffles, origami techniques, and bold colors. The result? Entire collections of wearable sculptures, conceived as three-dimensional works of art, worn by stars such as Valentina Cortese, Silvana Mangano, Marilyn Monroe, Esther Williams, and even Rita Levi Montalcini on special occasions. A new exhibition titled The Power of Color. Roberto Capucci brings together 20 of these spectacular creations, along with sketches, drawings, and photographs, at Villa Pisani in Stra, near Venice. The 18th-century Venetian-style palace, complete with original furnishings and paintings, offers the perfect backdrop, almost as if engaging in a dialogue with Capucci’s work, blending fashion, history, and architecture.

Title: La Forza del Colore. Roberto Capucci a Villa Pisani

When: May 17 to November 2, 2025

Where: Villa Pisani, Stra

Saghar Daeiri - Naples

Shazar Gallery in Naples is hosting Sun of the Beach, the second Italian solo show by Iranian artist Saghar Daeiri. The exhibition includes drums, canvas paintings, and tapestries filled with saturated colors and grotesque elements, a visual language used to amplify her critique of human contradictions. Among the hyper-saturated and vibrant watercolors, the standout piece is the show’s namesake Sun of the Beach, where upside-down and tilted images create a dreamlike, disorienting space. Daeiri wants the viewer to feel lost, stripping away fixed points and leaning into visual chaos. This unique artistic voice also emerges in The Odyssey of an Asphodel, a piece where the flower, mythologically linked to death, carries signs of tragedy, as playful scenes from daily life fade into a grey, plant-like space.

Title: Sun of the beach

When: Until May 31, 2025

Where: Shazar Gallery, Naples

Cristina Mittermeier - Palermo

Cristina Mittermeier has traveled to every corner of the Earth, documenting the planet’s beauty and the cultures of its people, from wild landscapes and animals to communities living in harmony with nature. Her work is currently on display at the GAM (Gallery of Modern Art) in Palermo until June 2, 2025. Curated by Lauren Johnston in collaboration with National Geographic, the exhibition features around 80 photographs showcasing traditions, rituals, and ancestral knowledge, and, above all, the deep bond between certain communities and nature. Mittermeier, a photographer, marine biologist, and activist, invites us to explore the concept of “enoughness,” asking us to reflect on our place within the global ecosystem and to move toward a more sustainable and conscious way of living.

Title: Cristina Mittermeier. La grande saggezza

When: Until June 2, 2025

Where: GAM – Gallery of Modern Art, Palermo

Francisca Valador - Rome

“Small fragments, when put together, become the building blocks of a whole.” This idea is at the core of Portuguese artist Francisca Valador’s work. Flowers, seeds, fruits, insects, and other small objects, like modern still lifes, are carefully arranged to create new symbolic narratives. Everyday life, in all its beauty and complexity, takes center stage. Although the new paintings on display at Matèria gallery in Rome are small in scale and rest delicately on stainless steel supports, they have a sculptural presence, intimate, elusive, yet captivating. Their bright colors and botanical or animal forms draw viewers in. Valador’s art is full of vitality, light, and poetry.

Title: Francisca Valador. A partir daqui só há dragões

When: Until June 27, 2025

Where: Matèria, Rome

Flowers in Italian Art - Mamiano di Traversetolo (Parma)

Flowers have inspired generations of artists, and until June 29, the Magnani-Rocca Foundation near Parma celebrates these wonders of nature with a show featuring over 150 floral masterpieces by major Italian artists, from the late 1800s to the present day. The exhibition spans Symbolism, Futurism, Magic Realism, Abstraction, and contemporary expressions, with an entire section dedicated to roses. It feels like walking through secret gardens, evoked in works by Pellizza da Volpedo, Chini, Nomellini, Moggioli, Boccioni, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Dürer, Titian, Goya, Canova, Burri, and many others. The paintings form vibrant, beautiful bouquets, so vivid you might even imagine the scent of Casorati’s daisies, de Pisis’ gladiolus, Segantini’s hydrangeas, Morandi’s roses, or de Chirico’s chrysanthemums. A special bonus is the location itself: the show is set in Villa Magnani, surrounded by the freshly restored English-style Romantic Park, twelve hectares of one of Italy’s most enchanting landscapes.

Title: FLORA. L’incanto dei fiori nell’arte italiana dal Novecento a oggi

When: Until June 29, 2025

Where: Magnani-Rocca Foundation, Mamiano di Traversetolo (Parma)

Norman Parkinson - Turin

In 1939, model Pamela Minchin in a Fortnum & Mason swimsuit jumps in midair on the beach at the Isle of Wight, England. Recalling that shot taken for Harper's Bazaar, Norman Parkinson himself said, “This shot confirmed to me that for the rest of my life I would be a photographer. I was absolutely stunned by its magic.” And he was not wrong. In more than 56 years of work, he chronicled the transformations of the fashion world throughout the 20th century, shaping the aesthetic modes through which haute couture was communicated for more than four decades. Parkinson was among the first to take models out of the photography studio and capture them in the real world, in cities and in faraway and exotic locations. The result is dynamic and innovative shots published in major fashion magazines, including Harper's Bazaar, Vogue and Town & Country. Terence Pepper, for more than 40 years curator at London's National Portrait Gallery, selected 80 of them as part of the exhibition Norman Parkinson. Always in Fashion, on view through June 29, 2025 at Palazzo Falletti di Barolo, in Turin. Prominent among them is a portrait of Audrey Hepburn, taken in 1955 for Glamour magazine at Villa Rolli, Italy, during the filming of War and Peace, in which the actress wears a stunning cocktail dress from Givenchy's 1955 spring-summer collection.

Title: Norman Parkinson. Always in Fashion

When: through June 29, 2025

Where: Palazzo Falletti di Barolo, Turin