Saturday, October 10, 2026 – 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00 PM–6:00 PM
To mark the twenty-second edition of *Contemporary Art Day* (Giornata del Contemporaneo), promoted by AMACI, the Melzi Historical Archive is opening its doors to the public at the “Palazzo D’Este” Town Hall (Council Chamber) in Corteolona e Genzone. The exhibition offers an immersive journey spanning fifty years—from the 1970s to 2020—through the work of a multifaceted artist who has left a profound mark on the Italian visual landscape.
Giorgio Melzi (Milan, 1944–2020) was a painter, set designer, sculptor, and advertising creative, as well as a respected teacher at the *Bottega degli Artisti* for students from the Brera Academy. His extraordinary experience as a set designer for theater and television is powerfully reflected in his body of paintings.
The exhibition unfolds through a carefully curated selection of works drawn directly from the artist’s historical archive. Viewers will be particularly struck by the sheer scale of the pieces: imposing 200 x 150 cm canvases—capable of commanding the space and evoking theatrical backdrops—alternate with 100 x 100 cm square formats and dynamic 70 x 100 cm works, where color and materiality engage in a dialogue with the precision of graphic lines rooted in the world of advertising.
“Presenting and sharing the journey of Giorgio Melzi today, within the prestigious framework of Contemporary Art Day, means doing justice to an artist who successfully broke down the boundaries between visual art, the stage, and communication,” states the Archive’s curator. “His monumental works are not merely paintings, but fragments of a life dedicated to designing beauty—whether on stage or on canvas. This exhibition aims to convey the full power of his vision.”
The exhibition, which is free to enter, will be open throughout the day on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Special guided tours led by the Archive’s curators will offer visitors the chance to discover anecdotes about the artist’s work in Brera and the world of entertainment.
This occasion also marks an official tribute by the Municipality of Corteolona e Genzone to Giorgio Melzi. During the final thirty years of his life and career, the artist chose this very town as the location for part of his studio and artistic output, enriching the local cultural landscape with activities linked to his Milan studio at Porta Romana—a hub that remains a vital reference point for understanding the evolution and roots of artistic exploration in the area.
