From trials of street-artists caught in the act of committing "crime", to urban art that has became the essential ingredient to make cities attractive and suburbs tasty. Milan once again as "movement" leader aiming to increase art on the walls, in the gardens, in the squares. Everything began fifteen years ago. I was there.

I remember when, in 2006, the then newly elected mayor Letizia Moratti called me to join Milan Strategic Committee in order to give suggestions on creativity still dormant in my city, one of the first things I tried my hand at was an attempt to clear street artists from undesirable ghetto to the real artists one, such as many were, making the difference between vandals/taggers and guys who expressed dreams and drawings with murals, often ennobling degraded walls...

From trials of street-artists caught in the act of committing "crime", to urban art that has became the essential ingredient to make cities attractive and suburbs tasty. Milan once again as "movement" leader aiming to increase art on the walls, in the gardens, in the squares. Everything began fifteen years ago. I was there.

I remember when, in 2006, the then newly elected mayor Letizia Moratti called me to join Milan Strategic Committee in order to give suggestions on creativity still dormant in my city, one of the first things I tried my hand at was an attempt to clear street artists from undesirable ghetto to the real artists one, such as many were, making the difference between vandals/taggers and guys who expressed dreams and drawings with murals, often ennobling degraded walls.
It all started at Superstudio's MyOwnGallery, with an exhibition by two American street art's giants, Sharp and Daze and, later, with that of an even more popular one, Obey, famous for Obama's official portrait which accompanied his election. Well, I invited an initially horrified then intrigued councillor for culture at the time, Vittorio Sgarbi, to visit the exhibition. Squatting on the garden in front of the gallery, discussions and controversies stirred up between angry supporters of hard and pure street art and the excitement that goes with it, and those most likely to approach typical places, even galleries or museums.
I got excited, knowing well that my satisfaction would only be immaterial, not trading in works or doing as an agent for artists.
So I immediately became an "aunt" for these full of talent and fury guys, actually very sweet and sensitive that I remained friends with.
The result was, not only because of me, the first and famous “Street Art Sweet Art” exhibition at the Pac in 2007 that paved the way for everything else. During Moratti's administration period I succeeded in some blitzes: to lead in the same year the international Cow Parade in Milan with its decorated resin cows, to commission large mural by different artist in every area of Milan starting with Pao, Neve, TvBoy, Nais and KayOne, then two great exhibitions at Superstudio with Bros and TvBoy before they became well-known, manholes in Tortona area and Via Montenapoleone of "Sopra il Sotto" painted by international street artists commissioned by MetroWeb, and so on.
Until continuity was timidly ensured even after the change of Moratti administration in 2011, by Mayors who came later. In 2015 the first public "Free Walls" were assigned.
I have continued to love and support this art form in our spaces, the last one was Flycat exhibition in MyOwnGallery a few months ago. Instead the street poet Ivan accompanied with his poem the new Superstudio Maxi presentation at the Triennale in January 2020, in advance (excuse me for using this disrespectful comparison) on the declamation of the young poet in yellow Amanda Gorman at President of the United States Joe Biden inauguration ceremony.
I’m happy to see that city is finally filling up with colors, entire outlying areas become open-air museums, murals are first approach great canvases to art for everyone and there are those who go to see them on purpose.
Recently, the Municipality of Milan has just issued a call to officially make public walls available for this, which will enter an admired and recognized itinerary, complete with cataloging and attention to maintenance, and I can only rejoice that this little seed launched so many years ago has sprouted so well, even if it took a while. The second last call by Municipality also invites you to submit sculptures and installations projects for urban spaces. Excellent news, we’re ready here too. Already years ago we proposed (in vain) the laying of a cor-ten steel sculptures series by Flavio Lucchini in via Tortona.
We were also discouraged by the fact that Arnaldo Pomodoro had to remove his beautiful sculpture in via Solari due to the high cost for public area occupation. Today it seems to be no longer the case and we will try again, perhaps imagining to bring colored sculptures in the meadows facing Superstudio Maxi, where art will be at home.