McDonald's installs ball pit with Damien Hirst and Vedovamazzei artworks at Milan Design Week

During Milan Design Week 2026, McDonald's presented an interactive installation titled POOL. Ti sblocco un ricordo at 58 Via Tortona, within the Tortona Rocks program. The installation featured a large ball pit filled with colorful balls, requiring visitors to wade through it to view two artworks. On the far wall, a Spot Painting by Damien Hirst was displayed alongside an Early Work series piece by the artistic duo Vedovamazzei, which reproduces Hirst's painting as if made by a child. Curated by Nicolas Ballario, the experience aimed to evoke childhood memories. An additional exhibition space showcased historic McDonald's collectibles, including Peanuts and Super Mario items. The event was part of Tortona Rocks, with Collater.al as media partner. Damien Hirst's Spot Paintings, begun in the late 1980s, consist of grids of uniquely colored dots on white backgrounds and are among his most iconic and commercially successful works. Vedovamazzei, comprising Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino, focuses on the relationship between original and copy, often recreating famous artworks in a childlike style. The installation encouraged playful, childlike engagement through physical interaction.