Andy Warhol: Italy-focused exhibition at Le Stelline

Andy Warhol. Passage in Italy 1975-1987

An exhibition at the Refettorio delle Stelline in Milan investigates Andy Warhol's relationship with Italy between 1975 and 1987. The show highlights how encounters with Italian cities shaped Warhol's practice, turning everyday objects, religious imagery and local traditions into pop visuals with renewed symbolic meaning.

Exhibition overview

The route is built around screenprints, photographs and archival records that illuminate two complementary facets of Warhol's Italian experience: the urban, entrepreneurial dimension in Milan and the historical, spiritual engagement in Naples.

• Screenprints and portraits: central works that reveal how popular icons are elevated to near-sacred status.
• "Vesuvius" series: examples of Warhol's pop reinterpretation of a powerful Neapolitan symbol.
• Previously unseen photographs: images documenting the artist's working environments and the atmospheres of the visited cities.
• Archival documents: correspondence and materials from galleries and collections that reconstruct exhibition history and collaborations with Italian artists and intellectuals.

Why visit

The exhibition offers a fresh perspective on Warhol, presenting him not only as a central figure of American Pop Art but as an artist who developed new aesthetic syntheses through direct engagement with Italian culture. Works by contemporary Italian and international artists are shown alongside Warhol's pieces to convey the creative climate of the 1970s and 1980s.

Practical information

Venue: Refettorio delle Stelline, Milan.

Dates: on view until 20 June 2026. Check the venue's official channels for opening hours and entry conditions before visiting.

Visiting tips

• Allow at least an hour to fully appreciate the archival materials and series of screenprints.
• Pay attention to sections comparing Warhol with Italian contemporaries to understand aesthetic dialogues of the period.
• Look for related events such as curator talks or guided tours to deepen your visit.