Robert Mapplethorpe. The Forms of Desire in Milan

You know that feeling you get when something is so beautiful it seems almost forbidden?

Well, in Milan, from the end of January 2026, that feeling will take shape. Body, desire and provocation come together in the elegant rooms of Palazzo Reale with Robert Mapplethorpe. The Forms of Desire, an exhibition I recommend you see if you love art that is not afraid to show itself.

Mapplethorpe in Milan. Desire, beauty and provocation

From 29 January to 17 May, you can immerse yourself in the visual universe of one of the most refined and controversial photographers of the 20th century, creator of images that have become true cultural icons.

The exhibition, curated by Denis Curti, is not a simple retrospective, but the second chapter of a journey that began with an exhibition in Venice on Mapplethorpe and is set to continue in Rome.

Each stage explores a different side of the artist. The Milan exhibition focuses on his obsession with form, on desire rendered aesthetic, on the beauty of the body sculpted and photographed as if it were ancient marble.

As soon as you enter the rooms, you will realise that nothing is left to chance. Mapplethorpe’s images are rigorous and sensual, perfect and disarming. Male nudes that resemble Greek sculptures coexist with intense portraits, enigmatic still lifes and details that transform the everyday into mystery.

Each shot tells a story of desire that needs no explanation. You can feel it, you can see it, it hits you like a declaration of freedom.

Many of the works on display are unpublished or rarely exhibited. The selection is designed to give the Italian public the purest essence of Mapplethorpe, the one that caused controversy, scandalised and fascinated, leaving its mark on the history of contemporary photography.

Adding to the fascination of the experience is Mapplethorpe Unframed, a podcast written and narrated by Nicolas Ballario, available from 21 October on Spotify, Apple Music and major platforms.

The event is part of the cultural programme of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

This detail is not merely symbolic. The athletic body, the muscular tension, the ideal of Greek perfection that Mapplethorpe pursued throughout his life find an extraordinary echo in this context. Looking at his photographs, one cannot help but think how desire, strength and elegance are part of the same visual narrative.

Patti Smith & Robert Mapplethorpe

Why visit the exhibition

It is not just a question of aesthetics, but a question of perspective. Mapplethorpe photographed everything he found beautiful, even when that beauty was frightening. His subjects are men, women, flowers, symbols that become mirrors in which we recognise desire, the tension towards something absolute, the need to give shape to what often remains hidden.

The exhibition is accompanied by a rich catalogue published by Marsilio Arte with 257 images that trace the entire career of the American photographer. An important document for those who want to deepen their understanding of his poetics, his language, his courage.

Robert Mapplethorpe. The Forms of Desire is an exhibition to be experienced with all the senses, confronting you with unfiltered beauty. If you love photography, the power of images and the emotions that linger even after you leave the exhibition hall, then this is the exhibition for you.

Information for visiting the exhibition

Robert Mapplethorpe. The Forms of Desire

Curated by Denis Curti

Milan, Palazzo Reale

From 29 January to 17 May 2026

Tickets are available online and can be booked now.

I already have my favourite shots, but I’m curious to know which ones are yours.