The 24th International Exhibition concludes the trilogy initiated in 2019 with a reflection on inequalities
The opening ceremony of the 24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano, titled Inequalities, took place. The exhibition will be open to the public from May 13 to November 9, 2025.
Inequalities, the Opening Ceremony
The ceremony opened with a message from Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, followed by institutional greetings from Alessandro Giuli, Minister of Culture; Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region; Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan; Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE); and Donatella Sciuto, Rector of Politecnico di Milano. Nobel Prize-winning economist Michael Spence delivered a keynote lecture on inequality. Also participating were Iñaqui Carnicero, Secretary General for Urban Agenda, Housing and Architecture of the Spanish Government, in dialogue with Stefano Boeri, as well as all the key figures involved in Inequalities. The Bee Awards were also presented during the ceremony. In attendance were various international institutional representatives, including David Kašpar, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic; HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums; and Federico Mollicone, President of the Culture Commission of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
A Reflection on the Human Condition and Inequality
After addressing the themes of sustainability (Broken Nature, 2019) and the mysteries of the universe (Unknown Unknowns, 2022), the 24th International Exhibition concludes this trilogy by focusing on the human dimension and tackling the urgent and political issue of the growing inequalities that characterize contemporary cities and the modern world.
This edition is a collective project that—through exhibitions, special projects, international contributions, performances, and public programming—explores global challenges related to differences in various spheres of life: economic, ethnic, geographic, and gender-based.
Curators and Contributors
Triennale Milano invited key figures from the global artistic and cultural scene to reflect on inequality. Among the curators are Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster; architectural historian Beatriz Colomina (Princeton University); Mark Wigley (Columbia University); Hans Ulrich Obrist, director of London’s Serpentine and a leading curator; and interdisciplinary artist Theaster Gates. The exhibition also features work by leading architects such as Kazuyo Sejima and Alejandro Aravena (Pritzker laureates); Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Boonserm Premthada of Bangkok Project Studio; and filmmaker Amos Gitai, a major figure in contemporary cinema.
Triennale’s International Exhibition is the only cultural event permanently recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organization that oversees World and International Expositions. As per BIE regulations, the role of General Commissioner is held by Stefano Boeri, President of Triennale Milano.
Boeri: “We will show how immense wealth is in the hands of a tiny few”
Stefano Boeri stated:
“For six months inside the halls of our Triennale, we will talk about inequality. We will do so through the lens of cities and spaces, but also bodies and lives. Through exhibitions that will show how immense wealth is now held by a tiny handful of individuals—and how being born poor is an irreversible condition for millions worldwide.
We will explore how inequalities—those we’re born with and those we encounter or even create—affect our life expectancy and health. We’ll speak of ghettos and wars, the ultimate expression of such entrenched and unjust inequalities that they become cruel instruments of death. But visitors will also encounter good ideas, thoughtful policies, and exemplary projects that can transform inequality into fertile differences—into shared qualities that enable diverse individuals to exchange values and grow together.
With Inequalities, Triennale Milano does not claim to exhaust the topic, but as always, to suggest reflections and propose solutions.”
Kerkentzes: “A crucial opportunity to explore inequality”
Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the BIE, said:
“At the heart of every Expo organized under BIE auspices lies a fundamental mission: to showcase the means available to humanity to meet the needs of civilization. The 24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano perfectly embodies this mission by inviting us to examine one of the most pressing challenges of our time: inequality.ì In a world with ever-evolving disparities, this edition offers a vital opportunity to explore not only existing divides but also the potential paths toward a more balanced and inclusive future.”
Curators, Designers, and Collaborations
The 24th Exhibition brings together 28 curators of exhibitions and special projects and 341 artists and authors from 73 countries. It spans 7,500 square meters of exhibitions designed by 6 studios: Abnormal, GISTO, Grace, Midori Hasuike, orizzontale, and Sopa Design Studio.
The exhibition includes 8 main shows curated by:
- Giovanni Agosti and Jacopo Stoppa
- Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigley
- Marco Sammicheli and Nic Palmarini
- Nina Bassoli
- Hans Ulrich Obrist and Natalia Grabowska
- Seble Woldeghiorghis, Damiano Gullì, and Jermay Michael Gabriel (Black History Months Milano)
- Norman Foster and the Norman Foster Foundation
- Telmo Pievani
And 10 special projects by:
Amos Gitai, Elizabeth Diller / DS+R, Theaster Gates, Federica Fragapane, Filippo Teoldi, Maurizio Molinari, Kimia Zabihyan (Grenfell Next of Kin), Jacopo Allegrucci, DAStU and CRAFT (Politecnico di Milano), Donatella Sciuto (Politecnico di Milano).
For the first time, five Milanese universities are involved: Bicocca, Bocconi, Cattolica, Politecnico di Milano, and Università degli Studi di Milano. The Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico also participates.
Over 20 International Institutions Collaborating
In a spirit of exchange and networking, Inequalities is supported by over 20 international institutions, including the Arctic Center, Democracy and Culture Foundation, Columbia University, Norman Foster Foundation, Oficina del Historiador, Princeton University, and the Serpentine.
Triennale addresses the complex topic of inequality along two key axes: the geopolitics and biopolitics of inequality.
The ground floor of the Palazzo dell’Arte hosts reflections on geopolitical inequality, particularly in urban life and the evolving meanings of “wealth” and “poverty.”
The first floor focuses on the biopolitical implications of social, economic, and gender inequality, looking at life habits, styles, and expectations through the lens of bodily and social diversity and spatial mobility.
International Participations
As in past editions, the 24th Exhibition includes a section for international participants, officially invited via BIE channels to create original contributions around the theme of inequality.
Given that cities are where inequality grows most rapidly, each national pavilion focused on a specific city, building a shared reflection and seeking advanced political responses for each context.
Bee Awards
During the opening ceremony, the Bee Awards were presented. The jury—Paola Antonelli (President, MoMA), Ifeoluwa Adedeji, and Maria Porro (President of Salone del Mobile.Milano)—awarded:
- Best Original Project: Two Sides of the Same Coin by Laura Krugan, Dan Miller, and Adam Vosburgh, in We the Bacteria exhibition
- Honorable Mention: Grenfell. Total System Failure by Kimia Zabihyan, part of the Cities exhibition
- Best National Pavilion: Lebanon’s And From My Heart I Blow Kisses to the Sea and the Houses, curated by Ala Tannir
- Honorable Mention for National Pavilion: Puerto Rico’s Había una vez y dos son tres “feminisitios”, curated by Regner Ramos
Performative Program
Curated by Umberto Angelini, a performative program will take place from October to November, engaging artists from diverse backgrounds and generations. The program will explore bodily and social inequalities through a rich, inclusive performative approach.
Participants include: Chiara Bersani, Fabio Cherstich, Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige, Nelson Makengo, Muna Mussie, Peeping Tom, Cristina Kristal Rizzo, Diana Anselmo, and Virgilio Sieni.
Triennale on Tour
Between June and July 2025, Triennale will embark on a participatory tour across 8 Milan districts to extend the dialogue of Inequalities beyond the Palazzo dell’Arte. A customized mobile unit by orizzontale will host workshops, performances, and community events for children, teens, and families.
Public Program
The exhibition is accompanied by a public program curated by Damiano Gullì, with events running from February to November in partnership with Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
Coinciding with the opening is the Art for Tomorrow event by Democracy & Culture Foundation, marking its 10th edition in Milan. This three-day initiative explores the social impact of the arts with top cultural figures and journalists from The New York Times.
Visual Identity
For each edition, Triennale selects a renowned designer or studio to develop the event’s visual identity. For the 24th edition, Pentagram was selected following an invitation-only competition. Giorgia Lupi and her team created a communication strategy using data to tell stories about our ever-changing world.
Editorial Projects
Two publications will accompany Inequalities.
The first, by Electa with graphics by Pentagram, is the official exhibition catalog featuring contributions from curators, artists, and designers.
The second, to be released in the fall, is a special double issue of Lotus magazine, produced in collaboration with Triennale and focusing on critical insights into the themes of the exhibition.
