All the exhibitions to see during the winter holidays in Milan

MASSIMODECARLO Gallery in the rooms of Casa Corbellini-Wasserman presents Holiday, the solo exhibition of American artist Rob Pruitt, through January 11. Elements of popular culture and everyday life are transformed into contemporary talismans, evoking as a meditative necessity on the everyday things. Among the works on display, the twenty-four paintings in the Sunset Paintings series portray this invitation to contemplation, in which the use of color is a narrative of the hours of a day. Holiday is an exhibition that celebrates the cycles of life with intimacy and irony, as is typical in the practice of the American artist.

Giangiacomo Rossetti's works, all centered on the human figure, return to Milan with a new solo exhibition, titled Squeeze, by the Milanese artist, who lives and works in New York, at Federico Vavassori Gallery through January 10, 2025. Rossetti pays homage to the masters of the past while claiming his own originality and boldly reinterpreting traditional models. His portraits, like snapshots, challenge the cult of painting, introducing a subjective narrative suspended in the time of everyday life.

In the heart of Milan's fashion district is Palazzo Morando, an aristocratic building that has been home to the Milan City Council's Costume and Fashion Collection since 2010. From December 13 to June 15, 2025, the museum is hosting the exhibition Galtrucco. Fabrics Fashion Architecture that celebrates the textile brand's elegance and innovation from the 1920s to the beginning of the new millennium. Curated by Alessandra Coppa, Margherita Rosina and Enrica Morini, the exhibition traces the history of the company and its connection with the city of Milan, following two sections: the first dedicated to the stores and advertisements, the second focused on the fabrics used for tailoring and ready-to-wear garments. A journey through twentieth-century art, design and fashion.

The ADI Design Museum through January 12 is hosting the ATM MANIFESTO exhibition, an unmissable opportunity to learn about the history of Milan's transportation company. For the first time, a selection of graphic and historical materials from the ATM archive is presented to trace the transformation of the company's visual communication from its origins to the present. The exhibition celebrates the link between ATM and Milan, also dedicating a special section to the M1 Metro-which turned 60 in 2024-designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Bob Noorda and awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1964.

Robilant+Voena opens its new exhibition space in Milan with paintings by U.S. artist Jordan Watson, close to the Ultra Contemporary Afrofuturism art movement. The exhibition Octavia's Butler, whose title is a tribute to the famous science fiction novelist Octavia E. Butler, is the artist's first solo show.  Self-taught artist, in the works on display, Watson portrays men and women as they engage in sports such as cycling, skiing and motoring. The exhibition also aims to reflect the international soul of Milan, anticipating the inclusive spirit of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Andrea Branzi. Civilizations without jewels have never existed, curated by Alessio de' Navasques, is the exhibition that 10 Corso Como dedicates to architect and designer Andrea Branzi, one year after his death, celebrating his radical vision. The exhibition, produced with Casa Argentaurum and Friedman Benda, presents works, documents and drawings from 1980 to 2023, and is part of a path of study and reinterpretation of the applied arts that 10 Corso Como wanted to include in the gallery's exhibition program.

Not the usual cinema: the exhibition Il Nostro Tempo (Our Time) CinéFondationCartier explores the work of twelve artists and filmmakers, including Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, Raymond Depardon, Agnès Varda, and Wang Bing, who reflect on the present and history through medium- and long-form productions. The Triennale spaces offer an immersive cinematic experience, inviting visitors to interact with the seventh art in an alternative way. The exhibition is complemented by a rich program of screenings and meetings, stimulating audience participation and return. The program is available on the Triennale Milano website.

Not in Milan but close by, an unmissable event: APALAZZOGALLERY presents Images, the first retrospective devoted to Larry Stanton (1947-1984). The exhibition, in collaboration with the artist's summer, includes sketches, drawings, paintings, videos and photos, many previously unseen since the Venice Biennale 2022. In the 1960s, Stanton emerged as a prominent figure within New York's queer community, focusing his artwork primarily on portraits of acquaintances and youth he encountered in Manhattan's streets and nightlife, capturing the essence of a generation deeply affected by HIV. In addition to the paintings, the exhibition includes Super 8 videos and intimate photographs, including an extraordinary film with David Hockney at work.