Robert Mapplethorpe remains one of the most influential, refined and controversial photographers of the 20th century. With "Robert Mapplethorpe: Le Forme del Desiderio", Palazzo Reale presents an extensive and unprecedented selection of his iconic and unconventional works, revealing the artist’s relentless pursuit of beauty, desire and formal perfection.
Curated by Denis Curti, the exhibition is the second chapter of a major trilogy that began in Venice with "Robert Mapplethorpe: Le Forme Del Classico" at Le Stanze della Fotografia and will conclude in Rome at Museo dell’Ara Pacis with "Robert Mapplethorpe: Le Forme della Bellezza". In Milan, the focus lies on Mapplethorpe’s sensual nudes, sculptural bodies and classical tension — a visual dialogue between contemporary photography and ancient Greek ideals.
Part of the cultural program of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on identity, desire, gender and the enduring power of aesthetic form. Through 257 works, the evolution of Mapplethorpe’s visual language unfolds with striking clarity and emotional intensity.
Work:
Robert Mapplethorpe
Thomas, 1987
© Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, used by permission
Curated by Denis Curti, the exhibition is the second chapter of a major trilogy that began in Venice with "Robert Mapplethorpe: Le Forme Del Classico" at Le Stanze della Fotografia and will conclude in Rome at Museo dell’Ara Pacis with "Robert Mapplethorpe: Le Forme della Bellezza". In Milan, the focus lies on Mapplethorpe’s sensual nudes, sculptural bodies and classical tension — a visual dialogue between contemporary photography and ancient Greek ideals.
Part of the cultural program of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on identity, desire, gender and the enduring power of aesthetic form. Through 257 works, the evolution of Mapplethorpe’s visual language unfolds with striking clarity and emotional intensity.
Work:
Robert Mapplethorpe
Thomas, 1987
© Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, used by permission
29 January to 17 May 2026
