Lehmann Maupin, one of the leading contemporary art galleries in the world, has announced the opening of a new seasonal art space in Milan, Italy. The space, housed at Circolo, a non-profit organization founded by Nicole Saikalis Bay, will open on April 12th, 2024, coinciding with the major art and design events in the city, such as Miart, Salone de Mobile, and the 60th Venice Biennale Foreigners Everywhere. The space will also feature works by gallery artist Kim Yun Shin, who will represent Korea at the Venice Biennale.
This is the first time that Lehmann Maupin has a physical presence in Italy, and it follows the success of recent pop-ups in Aspen, Palm Beach, Taipei, and Beijing. The gallery, which has been operating for 28 years, has established deep roots across Europe, through its artists, exhibitions, fairs, and most recently, through the opening of Lehmann Maupin London in 2020, its first permanent exhibition space in Europe. Last year, Isabella Icoz was promoted to Partner, overseeing the London gallery and its European activities. In the coming months, Lehmann Maupin will launch a new popup location on Cork Street, in the heart of Mayfair.
Why Milan?
Milan is a city that is known for its constant reinvention of design and contemporary art, and it has quickly evolved into a dynamic cultural hub with a fast growing economy. The city is home to many significant museums and private collections, such as the Pirelli HangarBicocca, the Fondazione Prada, the Museo del Novecento, and the Collezione Maramotti, which attract a global audience of collectors, curators, and fellow galleries. Milan is also a strategic location for the gallery, as it is close to other important art centers in Europe, such as Venice, Zurich, and Paris.
Rachel Lehmann, co-founder of Lehmann Maupin, reflects on the significance of Milan in the art world, stating:
Milan holds a unique position in the arts and culture industry. It’s known for its constant reinvention of design and contemporary art, and it has quickly evolved into a dynamic cultural hub with a fast growing economy. The city is home to many significant museums and private collections, which is a draw for a global audience of collectors, curators, and fellow galleries alike. Our decision to open a pop-up space in Milan aligned first and foremost with the needs of our artists and our commitment to always looking for new avenues to introduce wider audiences to our rich program.
What to Expect at Lehmann Maupin Milan?
Lehmann Maupin Milan will present a group exhibition featuring works by five gallery artists: Hernan Bas, Loriel Beltrán, Mandy El-Sayegh, Todd Gray, and Nari Ward. The exhibition will showcase the diversity and dynamism of the gallery’s program, as well as the relevance and resonance of the artists’ works in the Italian context.
Hernan Bas is a Miami-based artist who creates paintings, drawings, and sculptures that explore the themes of adolescence, sexuality, and identity, often referencing literary, historical, and mythological sources. His works are characterized by a rich and expressive use of color, texture, and symbolism. Bas will present a new series of paintings inspired by the Italian Renaissance, as well as a large-scale installation that recreates a Venetian palazzo.
Loriel Beltrán is a Venezuelan-American artist who works with materials such as marble, granite, and concrete, transforming them into abstract compositions that challenge the notions of weight, balance, and gravity. His works are influenced by his background in architecture and engineering, as well as by the political and social realities of his native country. Beltrán will present a new series of sculptures that combine natural and artificial elements, creating a contrast between organic and geometric forms.
Mandy El-Sayegh is a London-based artist who creates paintings, drawings, collages, and installations that explore the themes of language, identity, and representation, often using fragments of texts, images, and materials from various sources. Her works are influenced by her multicultural upbringing, as well as by her research on psychoanalysis, biology, and geopolitics. El-Sayegh will present a new series of works that combine painting and collage, creating a complex and layered visual language.
Todd Gray is a Los Angeles-based artist who works with photography, performance, and sculpture, addressing the issues of race, colonialism, and memory, often using archival images from his personal collection. His works are influenced by his experience as a photographer for Michael Jackson, as well as by his travels to Ghana, where he has a studio. Gray will present a new series of works that combine photographs of African landscapes, European monuments, and pop icons, creating a dialogue between different histories and cultures.
Nari Ward is a New York-based artist who works with found objects, such as shoes, bottles, tires, and umbrellas, transforming them into sculptures, installations, and public art projects that reflect on the social and political realities of his environment. His works are influenced by his Jamaican heritage, as well as by his engagement with the communities where he works. Ward will present a new series of works that use materials such as copper, fire hoses, and neon, creating a contrast between the industrial and the organic.
Who is Behind Lehmann Maupin Milan?
Lehmann Maupin Milan is a collaboration between the gallery and Nicole Saikalis Bay, the founder of Circolo, a non-profit organization that aims to promote contemporary art and culture in Milan. Saikalis Bay is a patron of the arts, a collector, and a philanthropist, who has been involved in various initiatives and projects in the city, such as the Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, the Museo del Novecento, and the Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro. She is also the co-founder of the Milan Art & Design Week, a platform that connects the art and design worlds in the city.
Saikalis Bay has offered the gallery the use of her space at Circolo, a historic building located on Via della Spiga, near the Giardini Indro Montanelli. The space, which was formerly a private club, has been renovated and transformed into a contemporary art venue, with a minimalist and elegant aesthetic. The space will host the gallery’s exhibition, as well as a series of events and programs, such as talks, screenings, and workshops.
The gallery’s Milan space will be spearheaded by gallery partner Jessica Kreps, who states:
Our new pop-up space in Milan is a testament to our commitment to engage with diverse global art scenes and introduce our artists to new geographies. This venture in collaboration with Nicole [Saikalis Bay] will allow us to present several of our artists in Italy for the first time, including Venezuelan-American artist Loriel Beltrán and London-based artist Mandy El-Sayegh, as well as highlight new works by artists with major museum shows this year, like Nari Ward and Hernan Bas.
Lehmann Maupin Milan is a new and exciting addition to the gallery’s global presence, and a unique opportunity to experience the best of contemporary art in the heart of Italy. The space will be open from April 12th to June 21st, 2024, and will welcome visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 am to 7 pm.
