Contemporary art: exhibitions to see in galleries in January 2026

January is the month of good intentions… and new gallery openings.
If, like me, you love the smell of fresh paint and the idea of losing yourself in front of works that ask questions rather than give answers, then you’re in the right place.

No rankings, no competitions to see who is better or more conceptual: these five exhibitions are simply five excellent reasons to slip into a contemporary art gallery in the heart of winter and let yourself be surprised.

In Milan and Venice, the curtain rises on new visions, bodies, words, silences and metaphorical banquets. There are Italian and international artists, immersive installations, canvases that depict inner landscapes and visual poems to be deciphered.

Ready to discover what’s cooking in the world of contemporary art? Here is January’s selection, curated by Alice Traforti with curiosity and the usual desire to lose herself in the unexpected.

Contemporary art: GALLERY OPENINGS in January 2026

Contemporary art January 2026

selection curated by Alice Traforti / art writer & artist consultant

Here are 5 exhibitions opening in January in 5 contemporary art galleries in Italy.
This is not a ranking of the best exhibitions!
These 5 proposals offer different perspectives on current events, providing an overview of contemporary research.

OPENING January 2026: contemporary art in art galleries in Milan and Venice

OPENING Thursday, 15 January 2026
from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

A world entirely outdoors.
Alice Cattaneo, Marco Andrea Magni

until 14 March 2026
BUILDING GALLERY, Milan

link with information about the exhibition: https://building-gallery.com/exhibitions/un-mondo-tutto-allaperto-alice-cattaneo-marco-andrea-magni/

Alice Cattaneo, Untitled, 2019_ph. Martin Devrient, Courtesy l’artista

OPENING Thursday, 22 January 2026

from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Austyn Weiner
Something Borrowed, Something Plum

until 28 February 2026
MASSIMODECARLO, Milan

link to learn more about the exhibition: https://massimodecarlo.com/exhibitions/something-borrowed-something-plum

Austyn Weiner, Something Borrowed, Something Plum

OPENING Thursday, 22 January 2026
from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Joan Jonas
Empty Rooms II

until 4 April 2026
Galleria Raffaella Cortese, Milan

link with information about the exhibition: https://raffaellacortese.com/exhibition/2026/empty-rooms

Joan Jonas, Empty Rooms II

OPENING Thursday, 29 January 2026
at 6.30 p.m.

Nicola Nannini
If one winter night…

until 14 March 2026
Area\B, Milan

link with everything you need to know about the exhibition: https://www.areab.org/152-nicola-nannini-unanotte-diinverno

Nicola Nannini, Cortina. Una sera di inverno, 2025. Olio su tavola (100×100 cm)

OPENING Saturday, 31 January 2026
at 5 p.m.

Opiemme
Senza Bandiere V.3.0.
Divide et impera

until 18 April 2026
Marignana Arte, Venice

link to the exhibition: https://www.marignanaarte.it/senza-bandiere-v-3-0-divide-et-impera/

Opiemme, Senza Bandiere. V.3.0. Divide et impera

Contemporary art JANUARY 2026: some exhibitions CLOSING SOON!

Omar Galliani. Nuovi Angeli – Nuove Carte
until 10 January 2026, at Mangano Galleria d’Arte, Cremona

Massimo Scolari – Solca Mari Mossi
until 24 December 2025, at Antonia Jannone Disegni di Architettura, Milan
EXTENDED TO 21 January 2026

Gabriele Cappelli – Venticinque
until 31 January 2026, Cadogan Gallery, Milan

Agnieszka Kurant – Variantology
until 31 January 2026, Lia Rumma, Naples

To discover all the unmissable exhibitions taking place in galleries, museums and exhibition halls throughout Italy, read the page dedicated to Exhibitions and Events, with a map to search for the event you want to see in your city.

Contemporary art JANUARY 2026: some exhibitions NOW ON!

Ahmet Öğüt – neither artificial nor intelligent
until 8 February 2026, at A plus A Gallery, Venice

Vuoti abitati – Giacomo Balla, Alexandra Barth, Susanne Kutter, Yerbossyn Meldibekov, Alain Urrutia, Luca Vitone
until 13 February 2026, MAAB Gallery, Milan

Emilio Isgrò – Rosso Shakespeare
until 14 February 2026, at Tornabuoni Art, Rome

Umberto Manzo – Invisibili Trame
until 14 February 2026, at E3 Arte Contemporanea, Brescia

VALIE EXPORT & KETTY LA ROCCA – BODY SIGN
in collaboration with Studio VALIE EXPORT and Archivio KETTY LA ROCCA
until 28 February 2026, Thaddaeus Ropac, Milan

RERUM NOVARUM – Matteo Basilé
until 7 March 2026, at Galleria Giampaolo Abbondio, Todi

Accardi, oroargento – opere 1964-1965
in collaboration with Archivio Accardi Sanfilippo
until 28 March 2026, Galleria dello Scudo, Verona

Kounellis | Warhol. The staging of human tragedy: the classicism of Jannis Kounellis and the pop art of Andy Warhol.
until 29 May 2026, at Galleria Fumagalli, Milan

All the exhibitions that opened last month and are still running can be found in the post on exhibitions not to be missed in December 2025.