Italiano
English
I am pleased to announce that one of my works has been appreciated by the Holy Father Francesco Bergoglio, now in Rome, in the Vatican.
Milena Barberis, born in Monza and now a vibrant presence at the heart of Milan's art scene, is an artist whose work is rooted in a solid academic background and constantly projects towards new frontiers of expression. Her profound knowledge of visual arts stems from her studies at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, where she had the privilege of learning from masters like Domenico Cantatore, Pietro Diana, and Luigi Veronesi. These encounters shaped the foundations of her pictorial and conceptual language, endowing her with a rich expressiveness that shines through in every piece. Curiosity and a thirst for experimentation have driven Milena beyond national borders. Her collaboration with Anne and Patrick Poirier at the Sommerakademie in Salzburg opened new perspectives on sculpture and installation. Later, attending the Digital Art course at the School of Visual Arts in New York marked a turning point, enriching her expressive palette with the potential of digital media. These international experiences not only refined her technique but also inspired an artistic quest that merges tradition with innovation. In her works, Milena often explores "the complexities of human nature," inviting viewers to a deep reflection. Her art is a dialogue between matter and meaning, an invitation to look beyond the surface to grasp the essence of forms and emotions.
Milena regularly exhibits in solo and group shows both in Italy and abroad, and her works are part of important private and public collections or selected galleries. She currently lives and creates in Milan, continuing her artistic journey with passion and dedication.
Her works find their place in public and private collections: Gam Galleria D'Arte moderna Achille Forti, Verona; Magi 900, Museo delle eccellenze artistiche e storiche, Pieve di Cento, Bologna; Museo d'arte contemporanea, Moncalvo, Asti; Museo d'arte contemporanea, Castello San Pietro in Cerro, Piacenza; Museo G. Caproni, Trento; Villa Reale, Musei Civici, Monza; MUSINF, Museo dell'Autoritratto, Senigallia; Collezione Museo Erosmart, Salerno; Museo d'arte contemporanea, Marzi, Cosenza; Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Villa Croce, Genova; Stato Città del Vaticano, Roma
Who wrote about her In chronological order
Gino Traversi, Gino Boccalari, Franca Nesi, Dario Salani, Stefania Carozzini, Giorgio Seveso, Valentina Piredda, Gianni Nigro, Riccardo Barletta, Isabella Puliafito, Francesca Pensa, Rossana Bossaglia, Laura Gelmini, Luciano Caramel, Elena Pontiggia, Achille Bonito Oliva, Flaminio Gualdoni, Chiara Gatti, Beatrice Mosca, Valentina Agostinis, Alberto Mattia Martini, Gianluca Marziani, Severino Colombo, Francesca Bonazzoli, Alberto Crespi, Martina Corgnati, Maurizio Cucchi, Milo De Angelis, Sebastiano Grasso, Vivian Lamarque, Tiziano Rossi, Luigi Cavadini, Cristiana Curti, Massimo Donà, , Marina Arensi, Annalisa Venditti, Gigliola Foschi, Giorgio Bonomi, Angela Madesani, Chiara Canali, Roberto Mutti, Manuela Gandini
Solo Exhibitions
From 2020 to day
"E improvvisamente capii", Racconto di un viaggio, Parole e immagini, Introduzione Elena Pontiggia, Editore Stampa 2009, Milano (2025)
"L'Arca di Noè e gli Animali" , a cura di C. Dal Maso e A. Venditti, Monte D'Arte, Roma (2024)
Racconto di un viaggio, Parole e immagini, Introduzione Elena Pontiggia, Editore Stampa 2009, Milano (2025)
Giornata dell'Arte Contemporanea , "Ora di Luce" lettura di poesie di Ermanno Krumm, Al Magico Saltello, ex Bunker, Milano (2023)
Storytime , intervista su Radio Canale Italia (2023)
Giornata dell'Arte Contemporanea , "Sequenza di un Viaggio", Al Magico Saltello, ex Bunker della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, Milano (2022)
Photofestival 16° Collezione Bordiga , "Tra cielo e torre", testo di Manuela Gandini, Milano (2021)
"Milena Barberis Selected Works" , Studio Mintoy, a cura di Cristina Rossi, testo di Roberto Mutti, Milano (2021)
"La mattina a New York" , prima e dopo il lockdown del 2020, testo di Annalisa Venditti (2020)
"Di fronte alla città" , Installazione e Video Online, testo di Cristina Rossi, Spazio Milena Barberis, Milano (2020)
2010 - 2019
"Awe and Wonder" , Parma 360 Festival, a cura di Chiara Canali, Parma (2019)
"Lady of the sea" , performance, Subway New York City (2018)
Presenza a Mia Photo Fair 2017 , presentazione di Gigliola Foschi, e selezionata per Codice Mia Spazio Sangiorgi, Laigueglia (SV) (2017)
"Corrispondenze" , Barberis-Kikoko, Bipielle Arte, a cura di Mario Quadraroli e Mauro Gambolò, Lodi (2017)
"In front of a border", video and works, texts by Angela Madesani and Elena Pontiggia, Palazzo Comunale Puricelli Guerra, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan (2016)
"Memory Day", Works: Concert for Memory, curated by Annalisa Venditti, Palazzo Valentini, Rome (2016)
Performance "The Madonna of the Sea", Piazza Sant'Eufemia, text by Angela Madesani, Milan (2015)
"The journey is another", MyMicroGallery, curated by Stefania Carrozzini, Milan (2015)
"Subtle betrayals of identity", Galleria Dieci.Due!, curated by Gigliola Foschi, Milan (2014)
“Milena Barberis or the obsession with mutable beauty”, Broletto di Como, text by Alberto Crespi, Como (2013)
"For poetry", text by Alberto Crespi, Villa Borromeo, Solaro (2013)
"Migrant Ideas", National Prehistoric Ethnographic Museum “Luigi Pigorini”, Barberis-Kikoko installation, presentation by Alberto Crespi, text by Annalisa Venditti, Rome (2013)
“An impermeable mind”, International Poetry Festival, Palazzo Ducale, Genoa (2011)
“Fifth Moon”, Villa del Castello Visconteo, text by Alberto Crespi, Trezzo sull'Adda (BG) (2010)
Milena Barberis, Isu Bocconi, presentation by Elena Pontiggia, Milan (2010)
2000 - 2009
“Almost another”, Miradoli Arte Contemporanea, Milan (2009)
Milena Barberis and poetry, Galleria Sangiorgi, Laigueglia (SV) (2008)
“Hour of Light”: reading poems by Ermanno Krumm, texts by Maurizio Cucchi, Milo De Angelis, Sebastiano Grasso, Vivian Lamarque, Tiziano Rossi, Laboratorio d'arte e progetto, Vercelli (2008)
Milena Barberis, SVA, New York, NY (2008)
“Metropolitana”, Palazzo Ducale di Genova, with text by Gianluca Marziani and Reading as part of the 13th International Poetry Festival, Genoa (2007)
“An image of strength”, Pinacoteca Paparazzi, Crema (2005)
“I Oliva Gessi”, Galleria Montrasio arte, texts by Vivian Lamarque and Flaminio Gualdoni, Monza (2005)
Portraits, Film produced for Sky - Leonardo (2004)
“Neruda Archipelago”, Palazzo Piccolomini, Siena (2004)
“Metropolitana - City Paintings by Milena Barberis”, Chiesa di San Pietro in Atrio, text by Gianluca Marziani, with published and unpublished poems, Como (2004)
“The Honest Simulation”, Fondazione Mudima, text by A. Bonito Oliva, reviews by Flaminio Gualdoni and Chiara Gatti, Milan (2003)
“Painting as a diary, as a self-portrait”, Spazio Guicciardini, Article in Corriere della Sera, texts by Luciano Caramel and Elena Pontiggia, Milan (2001)
"Milena Barberis", Chiesa dell'Angelo, text by Rossana Bossaglia, Lodi (2000)
1980s - 1990s
"The Thread and the Seed", Spazio Lunardon, text by Riccardo Barletta, Milan (1997)
“Kunst und Kontext”, Schloss Mirabell, catalog text by Valentina Piredda, Salzburg and traveling exhibition to Prague, Bratislava, Budapest (1996)
"The Doors of Art", with the patronage of the Municipality of Campagna (Salerno) (1996)
"A Painting of Emotion", Galleria Ferrari, catalog text by Giorgio Seveso, Treviglio (1995)
Galleria Il Tempio, presentation by Franca Nesi, Pistoia (1994)
Galleria dell'Immagine, presentation by Franca Nesi, Florence (1994)
Civic Gallery of Monza, presentation by G. Pedrazzini, Monza (1981)
Galleria 14, Florence (1981)
Galleria Nuova Europa, presentation by Gino Traversi, Milan (1980)
Group Exhibitions
From 2020 to Present
"Disseminations", Studio D'Arte Del Lauro, Milan (2025)
"Paths", Exhibition "Al magico Saltello", Giuseppe Candiani and Milena Barberis, Milan (2023)
"Abundance", Stefania Carrozzini Gallery, Milan (2023)
The Human Touch, Stefania Carrozzini Gallery, Seoul (2022)
The Human Touch, Stefania Carrozzini Gallery, Giudecca 597 Venice (2022)
"The Magic Leap", At Milena Barberis's Magico Saltello, Text by Manuela Gandini, Poetry by Ermanno Krumm, Milan (2022)
“The Madwoman of the House” Iconographies of the Imaginary, Palazzo D'Adda, Varallo Sesia; Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano, Milan. Text by Raffaela Muraro (2021)
"Why must a woman?", Online exhibition curated by Mavi Ferrando, Gretel Fehr, Rosmary Pirotta - critical notes by Cristina Rossi (2021)
Save Humanity, online exhibition during the pandemic, curated by Vera Agosti (2020)
Online exhibition, RiContemporaneo.org, "The Diaries of the Image", Artists in the time of Contemporary Art (2020)
2010 - 2019
Contemporary Art Day AMACI, "Beauty", curators: Ali Farahzad and Gretel Fehr, Spazio Farahzad, Milan (2019)
"Crossings between Art and Photography", 70th Michetti Prize, curated by Anna Imponente and Claudio Cerritelli, Fondazione Michetti, Francavilla al Mare (CT) (2019)
"Art Exhibition, The Woman", Rotarart for Endometriosis, Morimondo Abbey (2019)
"Return to Ithaca XII", Grimaldi (CS) (2018)
Photofestival, Quintocortile, presentation by Riccardo Mutti, Milan (2018)
"The solitude of the self-portrait", Palazzo Guidobono, curated by Giorgio Bonomi and Lia Giachero, Tortona (AL) (2017)
"Digital Frame", by Uncommon, curated by Chiara Canali, Milan (2016)
"Untitled", Villa Borletti, Origgio, curated by Pino Diecidue, Origgio (VA) (2016)
"The Silk Road", National Center for Contemporary Arts, curated by Evelina Schatz, traveling exhibition, Moscow, Russia (2016)
"Water Figures", Ugo Carà, Museum of Modern Art of Muggia, Muggia (Trieste) (2015)
"Water Figures", with Expo patronage, Spazio Soderini, curated by Maria Rosa Pividori, text by Alessia Locatelli, Milan (2015)
Museum of Art and Crafts, Cosenza (2015)
"X Earth", Ex Fornace Space, Milan (2014)
"X Terra", Return to Ithaca, Palazzo Comunale di Grimaldi, curated by Mimma Pasqua and Maria Rosa Pividori, Grimaldi (CS) (2014)
Pavia Arte, Gioielli Gallery, Pavia (2014)
"Artist's Bricks", Fondazione Banca Popolare di Lodi, Lodi (2013)
Installation at the African Museum of Verona, Barberis - Kikoko, Verona (2013)
Artist's Books in comparison, Ex Chiesetta S. Antonio, curated by Virginia Milici, Badoere di Morgano (TV) (2012)
"The Right Hand Rule", Museum of Artistic and Historical Excellences, Magi 900, curated by Cristiana Curti, with a text and aphorisms by Massimo Donà, Pieve di Cento (BO) (2012)
"Naturally Restarting", Municipality of Moncalvo, Asti (2011)
"Imperfect Portraits", Exhibition at Palazzo Forti, curated by Paola Marini and Patrizia Nuzzo, Verona (2011)
"Earth and Thought Relocations", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2011)
2000 - 2009
"The School of Monza", Montrasio Art Gallery, curated by Alberto Montrasio, Monza (2009)
"Drawing Erasing Redrawing Cathedrals", with works by Claes Oldenburg, Man Ray, Hermann Nitsch, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2009)
"Presences of the Contemporary", Museum of Contemporary Art of Lissone, Lissone (MI) (2009)
"To the Wolf", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2009)
"Walls, Words and Silence", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2008)
"The Party Dress", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2008)
"The Fable of Food", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2008)
"Adventures of the Gaze", Former Anglican Church of Alassio, curated by Nicola Davide Angerame, Alassio (SV) (2008)
Exhibition and acquisition at Palazzo Forti in Verona, Verona (2008)
"Silk Branches", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2007)
"Artist's Things", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, with the participation of Andrea G. Pinketts, Milan (2007)
Exhibition and acquisition at the Royal Villa Museum of Monza, Monza (2006)
"A Hand for Ail", Christie's Auction, Metropolitan Foundation, presentation by Flaminio Gualdoni, Milan (2005)
"Hungry Images", women and food in art, from the fifteenth century to the present day, Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley Archaeological Museum, curated by Martina Corgnati, Aosta (2005)
Bologna Art Fair, Contemporary Art, Galleria il Torchio, Milan, Bologna (2004)
Flash Art Exhibition, Galleria Cà Di Frà, Milan, presentation by Gianluca Marziani, Rome (2004)
"Metamorphic Extensions", Ancient Palazzo della Pretura, presentation by Alberto Mattia Martini, Castell'Arquato (2004)
Miart, presented by Galleria Costantini, Contemporary Art, Milan (2003)
13th Contemporary Art Market Exhibition, Arte Padova, Galleria Il Torchio, Milan, Padova (2002)
National Painting Exhibition, City of Monza Prize, Serrone della Villa Reale, invitation by Luciano Caramel, Monza (2002)
1980s - 1990s
"Naturarte", curated by Mario Quadraroli, Lodi (1999)
"The Place and the Sign", Contemporary Art, presentation by Gianni Nigro, Municipality of Arola (NO) (1998)
"Artists in the Window", Darsena della Baia, curated by Isabella Puliafito, Milan (1998)
Artistudio Gallery "Eighteen Twenty-four", Milan (1997)
Artemisia's Sisters, Credito Bergamasco, curated by Riccardo Barletta, Milan (1997)
Trevi Flash Art Museum, curated by Giancarlo Politi, Trevi, Perugia (1997)
G. Caproni Museum, Trento (1996)
Severgnini "Dialogues of Namoro" Art Gallery, Cernusco sul Naviglio (MI) (1996)
"S" as Guglielmo Marconi, curated by Michele Caldarelli, Banca Popolare di Milano and Guglielmo Marconi School in New York (1996)
"The Antagonism of the Imaginary", Arte Dimensione Europa, Castel Pergine, Pergine; Palazzo Geremia, Trento; Roccabruna Castle, Fornace, presentation by Giorgio Seveso (1995)
Roccabruna Castle, Fornace, presentation by Giorgio Seveso, Trento (1984)
Paper in Work , Galleria 9 Colonne, presentazione di Stefania Carrozzini, Ferrara (1994)
Riva Sinistra Arte , Forte Magnaguti, Borgoforte, Firenze (1994)
"Dimensione Arte Europa" , Palazzo Geremia, presentazione di Giorgio Seveso, Trento (1983)
Galleria d'arte moderna Il Castello , Milano (1982)
Galleria Paviarte , Pavia (1980)
Group Exhibition
from 2020 to day
Disseminazioni", Studio D'Arte Del Lauro, Milan (2025)
"Scatti per Bene", Charity auction of fine art photography benefiting the CAF Association, Milan (2025)
"Percorsi", "Al magico Saltello" exhibition, Giuseppe Candiani and Milena Barberis, Milan (2023)
"Abbondanza", Stefania Carrozzini Gallery, Milan (2023)
"The Human Touch", Stefania Carrozzini Gallery, Seoul (2022)
"The Human Touch", Stefania Carrozzini Gallery, Giudecca 597, Venice (2022)
"Il Magico Saltello", Al Magico Saltello by Milena Barberis, text by Manuela Gandini, poetry by Ermanno Krumm, Milan (2022)
“La matta di casa” Iconographies of the Imaginary, Palazzo D'Adda, Varallo Sesia; Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano, Milan. Text by Raffaela Muraro (2021)
"Perchè una donna deve?", Online exhibition curated by Mavi Ferrando, Gretel Fehr, Rosmary Pirotta - critical notes by Cristina Rossi (2021)
"Save Humanity", Online exhibition during the pandemic, curated by Vera Agosti (2020)
"I diari dell'immagine", Online exhibition, RiContemporaneo.org, Artists in the Contemporary Era (2020)
2010 - 2019
AMACI Contemporary Art Day, "Beauty - Bellezza", curators: Ali Farahzad and Gretel Fehr, Spazio Farahzad, Milan (2019)
"Attraversamenti tra Arte e Fotografia", 70th Michetti Prize, curated by Anna Imponente and Claudio Cerritelli, Fondazione Michetti, Francavilla al Mare (CH) (2019)
"Mostra D'Arte, La Donna", Rotarart for Endometriosis, Morimondo Abbey (2019)
"Tornare a Itaca XII", Grimaldi (CS) (2018)
Photofestival, Quintocortile, presentation by Riccardo Mutti, Milan (2018)
"La solitudine dell'autoscatto", Palazzo Guidobono, curated by Giorgio Bonomi and Lia Giachero, Tortona (AL) (2017)
"Digital Frame" by Uncommom, curated by Chiara Canali, Milan (2016)
"Untitled", Villa Borletti, Origgio, curated by Pino Diecidue, Origgio (VA) (2016)
"The Silk Road", National Centre for Contemporary Arts, curated by Evelina Schatz, traveling exhibition, Moscow, Russia (2016)
"Figure Acqua", Ugo Carà Museum of Modern Art, Muggia (Trieste) (2015)
"Figure Acqua", under the patronage of Expo, Spazio Soderini, curated by Maria Rosa Pividori, text by Alessia Locatelli, Milan (2015)
Museum of Arts and Crafts, Cosenza (2015)
"X Earth", Ex Fornace Space, Milan (2014)
"X Terra", Tornare a Itaca, Grimaldi Town Hall, curated by Mimma Pasqua and Maria Rosa Pividori, Grimaldi (CS) (2014)
Pavia Arte, Galleria Gioielli, Pavia (2014)
"Mattoni d'artista", Fondazione Banca Popolare di Lodi, Lodi (2013)
Installation at the African Museum of Verona, Barberis - Kikoko, Verona (2013)
"Libri d'artista a confronto", Ex Chiesetta S. Antonio, curated by Virginia Milici, Badoere di Morgano (TV) (2012)
"La regola della mano destra", MAGI '900 Museum of Artistic and Historical Excellence, curated by Cristiana Curti, with text and aphorisms by Massimo Donà, Pieve di Cento (BO) (2012)
"Ripartire naturalmente", Municipality of Moncalvo, Asti (2011)
"Ritratti im-perfetti", Exhibition at Palazzo Forti, curated by Paola Marini and Patrizia Nuzzo, Verona (2011)
"Traslochi di terra e di pensiero", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2011)
2000 - 2009La scuola di Monza", Montrasio Art Gallery, curated by Alberto Montrasio, Monza (2009)
"Disegnare cancellare ridisegnare Cattedrali", featuring works by Claes Oldenburg, Man Ray, and Hermann Nitsch, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2009)
"Presenze del Contemporaneo", Lissone Museum of Contemporary Art, Lissone (MB) (2009)
"Al lupo", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2009)
"Muri, parole e silenzio", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2008)
"Il vestito della festa", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2008)
"La favola del cibo", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2008)
"Avventure dello sguardo", Former Anglican Church of Alassio, curated by Nicola Davide Angerame, Alassio (SV) (2008)
Exhibition and acquisition, Palazzo Forti, Verona (2008)
"Rami di seta", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, Milan (2007)
"Cose d'Artista", Spazio Anfossi, curated by Milli Gandini, featuring Andrea G. Pinketts, Milan (2007)
Exhibition and acquisition, Royal Villa of Monza Museum, Monza (2006)
"Una mano per Ail", Christie's Auction, Metropolitan Foundation, presentation by Flaminio Gualdoni, Milan (2005)
"Le immagini affamate", Women and Food in Art from the 15th Century to the Present, Archaeological Museum of the Aosta Valley, curated by Martina Corgnati, Aosta (2005)
Bologna Art Fair, Contemporary Art, Galleria il Torchio (Milan), Bologna (2004)
Flash Art Exhibition, Galleria Cà Di Frà (Milan), presentation by Gianluca Marziani, Rome (2004)
"Estensioni Metamorfiche", Antico Palazzo della Pretura, presentation by Alberto Mattia Martini, Castell'Arquato (2004)
Miart, presented by Galleria Costantini, Contemporary Art, Milan (2003)
13th Contemporary Art Fair, Arte Padova, Galleria Il Torchio (Milan), Padua (2002)
National Painting Exhibition, "Città di Monza" Prize, Serrone della Villa Reale, invitation by Luciano Caramel, Monza (2002)
1980 - 1990
"Naturarte", curated by Mario Quadraroli, Lodi (1999)
"Il luogo e il segno", Contemporary Art, presentation by Gianni Nigro, Municipality of Arola (NO) (1998)
"Artisti in vetrina", Darsena della Baia, curated by Isabella Puliafito, Milan (1998)
Galleria Artistudio "Diciotto ventiquattro", Milan (1997)
"Le sorelle di Artemisia", Credito Bergamasco, curated by Riccardo Barletta, Milan (1997)
Trevi Flash Art Museum, curated by Giancarlo Politi, Trevi, Perugia (1997)
G. Caproni Museum, Trento (1996)
"Dialoghi del Namoro" Severgnini Art Gallery, Cernusco sul Naviglio (MI) (1996)
"S" as in Guglielmo Marconi, curated by Michele Caldarelli, Banca Popolare di Milano and Guglielmo Marconi School in New York (1996)
"L'antagonismo dell'immaginario", Arte Dimensione Europa, Pergine Castle; Palazzo Geremia, Trento; Roccabruna Castle, Fornace. Presentation by Giorgio Seveso (1995)
Roccabruna Castle, presentation by Giorgio Seveso, Fornace, Trento (1984)
"Carta in opera", Galleria 9 Colonne, presentation by Stefania Carrozzini, Ferrara (1994)
Riva Sinistra Arte, Forte Magnaguti, Borgoforte, Florence (1994)
"Arte Dimensione Europa", Palazzo Geremia, presentation by Giorgio Seveso, Trento (1983)
Galleria d'Arte Moderna Il Castello, Milan (1982)
Galleria Paviarte, Pavia (1980)
