Robert Mapplethorpe: Le forme del classico

“Le forme del classico” has been conceived as the first act of of a larger trilogy, part of a path of study and research aimed at deepening and broadly investigating the figure of Mapplethorpe. The project includes two other exhibition events in 2026 that will be staged at Palazzo Reale in Milan and Museo dell’Ara Pacis in Rome, respectively.

At the heart of the exhibition is the striking interplay between Mapplethorpe’s photography and classical statuary, emphasizing the timeless beauty of the human form. His masterful use of light, composition, and geometry transforms the male and female bodies he portrays into ethereal, almost divine icons—figures both sensual and sacred, imbued with an undeniable sense of desire and perfection.

Beyond the iconic nudes, the exhibition explores Mapplethorpe’s early career through rarely seen collages and ready-mades from the late 1960s. These experimental works, composed of original drawings, magazine clippings, and found objects, provide insight into his evolving artistic identity.