Milan, Leonor Fini's visionary genius on display at Palazzo Reale

Almost a century after her first solo exhibition in Milan, Leonor Fini (Buenos Aires, 1907 - Paris, 1996), an eclectic and visionary artist, is back in the spotlight with one of the most comprehensive retrospectives dedicated to her. From Feb. 26 to June 22, 2025, Palazzo Reale will open its doors to a major exhibition that invites the public to immerse themselves in the dreamlike and rebellious world of an artist who was able to redefine the canons of 20th-century art. The exhibition, titled simply Leonor Fini, curated by Tere Arcq and Carlos Martín, is sponsored by the City of Milan - Culture and produced by Palazzo Reale and MondoMostre, with support from the Estate of Leonor Fini.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1907 and raised in Trieste, Fini established herself as one of the most original voices on the European art scene. Her first exhibition was in 1929 at the Barbaroux Gallery in Milan, but since then her trajectory has led her to develop a unique language that weaves Italian roots with French influence. The Milan retrospective celebrates this duality, offering an intellectual journey that traces the main stages of her career and the influences that shaped her imagery.

A journey between dream, psychoanalysis and rebellion

Leonor Fini(more here) explored the boundaries of identity, questioning established gender roles and social models. Her paintings evoke worlds suspended between the dream and the unconscious, inhabited by enigmatic and powerful female figures, sphinxes, cat-women and men with ambiguous identities. In these scenarios, the tragic is mixed with mystery, offering an aesthetic that draws as much from Freudian psychoanalysis as from mythological symbolism.

Despite his closeness to the Surrealist movement, Fini never fully embraced its dictates, preferring to pursue an autonomous path. The result is work that combines the fantastical imagery of surrealism with classical composure, with references to the Italian Renaissance tradition.

The retrospective includes about 100 works, including 70 paintings, drawings, photographs, theatrical costumes, books and videos. Through nine thematic sections, the exhibition offers an in-depth reading of Fini’s work, highlighting the sources that inspired it: the Central European culture of Trieste, the great masters such as Piero della Francesca and Michelangelo, and the circle of surrealist artists and intellectuals including Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau.

An eclectic and independent artist

Leonor Fini was an unconventional figure: her provocative and nonconformist personality is reflected in an artistic output that ranges from painting to set design, from fashion to literature. The artist worked as a costume and set designer for theater and film, collaborating with internationally renowned directors and designers. In these areas, too, Fini has pursued a symbolic and complex vision, helping to redefine the role of the artist in contemporary society.

Her works, often centered on powerful women and archaic symbols, are traversed by a common thread that explores the feminine as a creative and subversive force. In an artistic context dominated by men, Fini was able to build a strong and independent identity for herself, earning a unique place in the European cultural landscape of the 20th century.

This retrospective is intended not only as a tribute to Leonor Fini, but also as an opportunity to rediscover the contemporary relevance of her work. The exhibition invites reflection on the revolutionary value of her art, which continues to inspire generations of artists and scholars.

Accompanying the exhibition, a comprehensive catalog brings together all the works on display, along with essays by international curators and scholars, as well as writings by Leonor Fini herself. An additional key to interpretation is offered by Fini’s own texts, which enrich the dialogue between her visual and literary dimensions.

Milan, Leonor Fini's visionary genius on display at Palazzo Reale

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