Nicolas Party’s Playful Dialogue with Old Masters at Milan’s Poldi Pezzoli

Nicolas Party, born in Lausanne in 1980, presents a playful exhibition at the Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan, engaging with the museum’s collection of Renaissance masterpieces. Known for his soft pastel paintings with unnatural colors, sculptures, and murals, Party creates a light yet pervasive dialogue with the historic space. In the Salone Dorato, surrounded by works by Mantegna, Pollaiolo, Botticelli, and Piero della Francesca, he displays small triptychs inspired by Albertinelli, blending his own motifs with new references. In the Stanza del Collezionista, a theatrical four-meter triptych contrasts with the intimate scale. The exhibition encourages a treasure hunt through the museum, with signs pointing to details—drapery, colors, subjects, structures—that inspired Party. The show is described as entertaining and stimulating, making time fly. The review was written by Antonio Mansueto, an artist, designer, and financial analyst based in Milan.