FRENCH PLACE opens in Milan with the exhibition CORALE: a new hub for contemporary art

A polyphonic space combining gallery, residencies, and public programs, where contemporary art and community come together.

Installation views CORALE, courtesy of FRENCH PLACE. Ph Francesco Paleari.

Milan becomes the new home of FRENCH PLACE, the cultural space founded in London in 2020 by Mauro Umberto Mattei and Marta Orsola Sironi. Its first Italian exhibition, CORALE, opens on January 29 2026, and will remain on view until February 28, marking the arrival of a platform dedicated to collaborative and experimental artistic practices.

An opening marked by collectivity and polyphony

FRENCH PLACE was conceived as a space for collaboration: a place where artists, galleries, institutions, and cultural professionals come together to share ideas and support one another. From its Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch, London, the project has now evolved into a cultural hub in Milan, combining the dynamics of an art gallery with the generosity of a cultural institution. Here, contemporary art unfolds as a collective experience through exhibitions, residencies, workshops, performances, and community projects.

The inaugural exhibition, CORALE, reflects this vision: its title evokes the concept of collectivity, relation, and resonance, extending beyond a purely musical dimension. Works by Xolo Cuintle, Nina Davies, Anna De Castro Barbosa, Francesca Frigerio, Steph Huang, Cecilia Mentasti, Mountaincutters, Matthias Odin, Marco Siciliano, Riley Tu, Gaspar Willmann, Rafał Zajko, and Luis Enrique Zela-Koort create a polyphonic landscape, where dissonance and proximity coexist without collapsing into a single harmony, offering visitors a simultaneous and immersive experience.

Above: Installation views CORALE, courtesy of FRENCH PLACE. Ph Francesco Paleari | Below: Marco Siciliano - 2.25 Berlin (2025) Digital photo, ornament glass embedded in a stainless steel frame (21 x 30 x 3.70 cm) / Mountaincutters - 23 Heures teintées (Amia Calva) (2024) Steel, video projection, optimized printing on cotton paper, mag - nets, kapok, sewn recycled plastic, paper, paint 200 x 100 x 80 cm. Courtesy of FRENCH PLACE and the artists.

From video to residencies: a multidisciplinary program

Alongside the exhibition, FRENCH PLACE launches its video program with works by Riley Tu (January 29 – February 11, 2026), exploring body politics, self-representation, and algorithmic resistance in digital spaces. From February 12 to March 12, 2026, the first artist residency with Matthias Odin begins, marking the start of a path dedicated to critical research and the creative process.

This multidisciplinary and collaborative approach lies at the heart of FRENCH PLACE’s identity: a space conceived as a proto-institution, where dialogue and relationships between artists, audiences, and the community create a dynamic and open ecosystem.

Riley Tu - Quantised Bits of Light till It Added to a Whole (2024), Single channel colour 4K video with stereo sound, 5 minutes 56 seconds Edition of 3 + 2AP, courtesy of FRENCH PLACE & the artist.

Education, community, and cultural sustainability

FRENCH PLACE is not only a space for exhibitions but also for learning and reflection. Workshops, artist talks, and collaborations with publishers and institutions promote awareness of contemporary art and intercultural dialogue. The gallery operates through a circular model, where proceeds support public programs, residencies, and mentoring activities.

Positioning art at the intersection of culture, community and education, FRENCH PLACE functions as an incubator for critical contemporary practices, a place to observe, listen, and think together, while fostering new voices and perspectives.

Visitor Information

FRENCH PLACE – Milano

Via Carlo Goldoni 64, 20129 Milano

Orari: Wednesday - Saturday: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Admission: free or by reservation

Info: website