From 13 May 2026 to 16 October 2026, Spazio Mostre Archivi Storici, Building B1, Bovisa Campus Campus, via Candiani 72, Milan
Ritratti/Portraits is an exhibition that explores the human portrait as both document and interpretation, offering a new perspective on the materials held in the archives of Politecnico di Milano—and beyond.
From Gio Ponti’s quick, playful sketches to the measured lines of Liliana Grassi, to the introspective photographs of Elsa Haertter, up to the contemporary portraits, the exhibition brings together diverse materials to form a mosaic of personalities and visions. Drawings, caricatures and images reveal a different way of understanding designers and artists, not only through their works but also by observing how they chose to represent themselves, or to be represented.
Through a variety of techniques and visual languages, ranging from loose sketches to carefully composed photography, the exhibition expands the levels of reading, creating a dialogue between different materials: from the document to its interpretation, from the private sphere to collective memory, from past to present times. The portraits convey what official sources often leave unsaid: human characters, tensions, ambitions and fragilities.
Organised into thematic sections, the exhibition becomes a journey of discovery that displays the vitality and richness of the archives, offering a different entry point into the human dimension of design and creative work.
Within this framework, the contribution of the Lab Immagine of the Department of Design is also included. The Lab was involved in the creation of a portrait campaign, in addition to the usual photographic documentation of the installation, opening, and exhibition. The aim was to bring the images on display up to date, with a particular focus on Gen Z, featuring students as portrait subjects and through a conscious use of photographic technique.
The images were produced by asking participants to choose a colour for the background and an object representing what it means to be a student. Posing and lighting were carefully designed to achieve a dynamic rendering of the portraits.
Opening hours of the exhibition
May 13th 2026 – October 16th 2026
Monday–Friday: 9:30am–8:00pm
Saturday: 9:30am–4:00pm
Guided tour: May 21st 2026, 5:00pm, registration is required via the Politecnico di Milano form.
Credits
Curated by: Roberto Dulio and Archivi Storici e Attività Museali at Politecnico di Milano with Chiara Pesenti, Ludovica Cappelletti, Anna Colella, Vincenzo Ficco and Silvia Raucci
Exhibit Design: Lola Ottolini, Matteo Andreoletti, and Lucia Emma Avolio
Visual Design: Stefano Mandato