A TRIBUTE TO MASTER MAURIZIO GALIMBERTI

FACES

The Contemporary Portraits

Exhibition & Award 2025

June 13 – Palazzo Bovara, Corso Venezia 51, Milan.

June 14 – Showroom ARETÈ, Via Seneca 4, Milan.

June 16–21 – TheStreetSoup Gallery, Via Gonzaga 7, Milan.

170 photographers, one subject: the face of contemporary photography.A tribute exhibition to Maurizio Galimberti lights up the heart of Milan.

Faces that remain, even after the lights go out.

The photography exhibition FACES has officially come to a close—a visual exploration of identity, presence, and the power of the gaze. A journey that unfolded in three acts, across three distinct locations in Milan: from historical elegance to industrial energy to digital experimentation. More than an exhibition, FACES became a space for real encounters—human, artistic, and international.

It all began at Palazzo Bovara, a neoclassical gem in the heart of Milan. During the opening night, over 1,000 people filled the venue within hours, immersed in a gallery of faces from around the globe. Photographers traveled from Tokyo, New York, Buenos Aires, Berlin, London… to finally see their work exhibited, to connect, to exchange. La Repubblica, one of Italy's leading newspapers, described the event as a rare success for an independent photography show.

Though Maestro Maurizio Galimberti was unable to attend due to a solo exhibition in Tuscany, his son Giorgio Galimberti, himself a photographer, honored us with his presence and support.

The following day, FACES moved to ARETE Showroom, a bold industrial space that stood in stark and fascinating contrast to the classical refinement of Palazzo Bovara. Two spaces. Two souls of Milan. Two lenses on photography. The exhibition concluded that same evening with an exclusive sunset aperitif on the rooftop of the Hotel Cavalieri, one of the city's most prestigious terraces.

That night, the contest winners were announced:

🥇 Alessia Banterla – First Place – winner of a Polaroid signed by Maurizio Galimberti and a €1,000 cash prize
🥈 Pietro Piacentini – Second Place
🥉 Jorg Schafer – Third Place

For those who missed the physical show, FACES continued in digital form with a large-scale projection (3x4 meters) inside TheStreetSoup gallery in Via Gonzaga, where it ran for two additional weeks. A steady stream of visitors, collectors, students, and enthusiasts confirmed that even in digital form, photography can still be deeply human—when the image is sincere.

The event garnered coverage from numerous national publications, all praising its curatorial quality, artistic freshness, and above all, its power to create real connections. Because beyond the photographs themselves, what we are most proud of is this: the bonds formed between photographers, the dialogue, the future projects sparked between a glass of wine and a framed portrait.

We close this edition of FACES with gratitude, with the pride of those who work to give space to contemporary photography, and with the certainty that the faces seen, felt, and shared will stay with us far beyond their time on the wall.

TheStreetSoup
Not just a gallery. A place where images breathe.

THE WINNERS

THE FINALISTS

PHOTO GALLERY

MAURIZIO GALIMBERTI

image credit: Elisabetta Brian per Obbiettivo Camera

Maurizio Galimberti was born in Como in 1956. He lives and works in Milano. Considered the greatest exponent of Italian instant photography, he has been nominated the official Instant Artist of Fuji Italy. After a traditional approach to photography, in 1983 he was enchanted by the expressive possibilities of the Polaroid, an instrument that allowed him to play with his usual passion: thehistorical avant-garde; becoming his radical and ongoing focus. In 1991 he became the official testimonial of Polaroid Italia and in 1992 he received the prestigious Grand Prix Kodak Pubblicità Italia award.

From 1989 his research on polaroid continued. The portrait of his son was his first experiment using the technique of the "Photographic Mosaic". He began to extend his techniques, which he called "butterfly wings" and "cluster" to different portraits of famous people, such as Johnny Depp, Robert De Niro, Lady Gaga, Umberto Eco, Robert Altman. He also won the cover of Times Magazine, with Depp's portrait.

FONDAZIONE MAZZOLENI

The Foundation MAZZOLENI promotes cultural events not only with artists of international standing but above all pays great attention to new emerging talents, following them in their artistic and professional evolution.

It organizes a series of exhibition events throughout the year in highly prestigious public contexts, addressing a national and international audience.

The Foundation also sponsors numerous evenings with personalities from the world of culture, Italian business and entertainment.

Since 2009, the flagship annual event has been the Gran Galà Arte Cinema which has the aim of promoting Italian art and excellence in a prestigious context like Venice during the Biennale, by awarding prizes to artists, actors and entrepreneurs.

The Foundation is run by Simona Occioni, entrepreneur from Bergamo and contemporary art gallery owner, co-founder and president of the Mazzoleni Foundation, recently also artistic director of the new company ArtOnline20.

(image on the left: Simona Occioni, President of the Mazzoleni Foundation)

The participants of the contest

All participants has been selected by the staff of TheStreetSoup, Fondazione Mazzoleni, Maestro Maurizio Galimberti and the POLAROID team

The participants of the MAIN EXHIBITION