Robert Mapplethorpe: The Forms of Beauty

The Ara Pacis Museum presents a substantial retrospective dedicated to Robert Mapplethorpe, featuring nearly 200 photographs selected to examine beauty through formal balance and compositional rigor. The exhibition highlights the photographer's work with light, surface texture and proportion, often approaching a sculptural quality.

What to expect

The selection includes portraits, still lifes and studies of the human body, all treated with meticulous attention to composition and chiaroscuro. The display also brings forward lesser-known works, arranged to emphasize shape and tonal contrast.

Practical information

• Where: Ara Pacis Museum (Museo dell'Ara Pacis), Via di Ripetta 180, 00186 Rome
• When: 29 May 2026 – 4 October 2026
• Opening hours: daily 9:30 AM–7:30 PM (last admission one hour before closing)
• Contact & bookings: tel. 060608 (service active daily 9:00 AM–7:00 PM). Advance booking is recommended during peak periods.
• Curator: Denis Curti
• Organisers: Roma Capitale, Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali, Marsilio Arte, Zètema Progetto Cultura, in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

Visitor tips

To enjoy the exhibition without rush, aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before your planned entry time. The installation encourages slow observation of formal details, so allow time to appreciate the sequencing of images. The show is especially relevant for visitors interested in the intersections of photography, classical form and twentieth-century visual experimentation.