1. Masters & Mavericks: Nilufar Gallery
Read the full article on Harper’s Bazaar here
Milano, La Mia Grande Bellezza
Milan Design Week 2025
Milan in April isn’t just a city — it’s a feeling. A rhythm. A way of moving. During this week, Milan speaks its own language, full of gestures, textures, flavors, and stories.
For me, Milan Design Week isn’t just about a design fair — but about the whole experience. It’s just as much about what you see, as what you drink, eat, or happen to overhear in a passing conversation at the bar. It’s about the contrast between the grand and the intimate. Between hyper-styled installations and the perfect — yet simple — artichoke-parmesan salad on a terrace in Brera.
As a gallery owner, I probably move through this city a little differently than most visitors. I’m not so much chasing trends as I am searching for worlds — for makers with a story. For places that linger, because they feel real.
In the end Milan isn’t a city of fast images. It’s a city of detail. Of attention. Of beauty in everything — from a hand gesture to a perfectly set table, from a sculptural object to a plate of pasta that’s just right.
These are my top 10 moments from Milan Design Week 2025 — a mix of art, design, fashion, and Italian life, which always gives everything jus that little extra sparkle. Because maybe that’s what Milan is really all about. Not trends or headlines — but la grande bellezza, the quiet beauty you stumble upon when you’re not even looking.
My 10 Highlights from Milan Design Week 2025
1. Masters & Mavericks
My icons. The kings (yes, women!) of the gallery world. Nina Yashar with her Nilufar Gallery (but especially the Depot), and Rosanna Orlandi with her nearly eclectic collection of treasures — they inspire me daily to do what I do: create worlds.
This year, I was also struck by Boon Room from Paris, with whom I shared a booth at the Collectible fair in Brussels last month. They presented new work by Dutch talent Ward Strootman — his Formed by Heat and Pressure collection, a beautiful tribute to the geological process of stone formation.
2. Vincenzo De Cotiis — Pure Art
My absolute highlight was visiting the palazzo (their private residence!) of Vincenzo De Cotiis — and honestly, I’m still recovering. What an experience. Unfortunately, it’s not open to the public, but if you’re in Milan, make sure to visit the gallery.
His collection of tables, inspired by Monet’s final Waterlilies, moved me deeply. When I lived in Paris, I could lose myself for hours in the Orangerie surrounded by Monet’s lilies. Vincenzo’s tables did the same — sculptural, poetic, and timeless, crafted in silvered brass with Murano glass.
3. Casa Milana
Through my friend, architect Max de Bethune from New York, I ended up at Casa Milana — a private residence opening its doors to the public this week in the most intimate, human way. It’s a warm, soulful space surrounded by contemporary and vintage design — the perfect place to pause and catch your breath amidst the week’s whirlwind.
4. Dimore X Loro Piana: La Prima Notte
Another wonderful experience was the world created by Dimore Studio and Loro Piana’s, a truly cinematic experience. Their show called, La Prima Notte di Quiete, was a theatrical dream — you quite literally felt like you were wandering trough a film set, where design, art, and nostalgia merged. Directed by Emiliano Salci and set to the music of Nicola Guiducci, it felt like you were part of the story — like you had just thrown the plates on the floor in a fit of emotion, as the faucet ran and rain tapped on the windows.
5. Scouting New Talent: Alcova, Good Selections & Vocla
Alcova remains the go-to for discovering new talent. Now spread across four locations, including a new evening version (Vocla) with music and drinks between the artworks — all set in raw, decaying spaces just outside the city.
If you’re in the area, make sure to check out Good Selections too. The presentation curated by Lucas Zito was strong, surprising, and refreshing, featuring work by Pepe Valenti — an artist definitely worth watching.
6. Homegrown Talent: Rive Roshan & Rick Tegelaar
Of course, I’m also here to support my own artists. Rive Roshan presented a powerful work at 5Vie, with a moving performance about the strength of the female voice — born from the heartbreaking ban on women singing in Iran.
Just as special: seeing Rick Tegelaar’s Tabby installed in the brand-new, four-story Louis Vuitton flagship store.
7. Loewe Craft Prize — The Power of the Hand
No hype collection presentations — just pure craftsmanship. Loewe’s Craft Prize proves year after year the importance of the human hand in design. This time, 25 artists were invited to reinterpret the teapot — as sculpture, as story, as symbol. The result: a wildly diverse and heartfelt collection.
8. Hermès: From Craft to Dance Floor
Milan wouldn’t be Milan without the fashion houses — and nearly every one showed up. What started as a jaw-dropping tour through artisanal hand-blown vases and glasses, ended in a literal party — with everyone dancing to Madonna’s Like a Prayer and other classics.
9. Drinks, Dining & Shopping: 10 Corso Como
My ultimate go-to remains 10 Corso Como — an oasis in the city, with a gorgeous courtyard, exhibitions (including the Margiela x Gentlemonster installation), and of course the store (featuring Phoebe Philo’s debut collection!).
And yes, I scored a new pair of shoes from the Santoni x Corso Como collab — haven’t worn them much yet though, because new shoes in Milan is a rookie mistake.
10. Bon Appetito
Design may be the reason I’m here, but food is always the highlight. Rigolo in Brera is one of those spots you could walk right past — but step inside and you’ll taste true Italian food. My tip: the artichoke-parmesan salad to start.
Another favorite this week: Taverna Moriggi — authentic, warm, and delicious, with a perfect Italian-French fusion. Ideal for ending a long Milanese day.