Anselm Kiefer. The Alchemists

Get ready to experience The Alchemists, a stunning new exhibition by the world-renowned artist Anselm Kiefer. Arriving at Milan’s Royal Palace as part of the cultural celebrations for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, this show is a centerpiece of the city's arts calendar.

This project has been in the works since 2023 and features over forty massive canvases. Kiefer painted these pieces specifically to live within this unique space, creating a moving conversation between his art and the room’s own dramatic history, which still bears the scars of the 1943 bombings.

The show also honors Milan’s own history through the story of Caterina Sforza. A scientist and leader who spent her youth in the city, she authored a rare manuscript filled with hundreds of alchemical secrets and medicinal recipes. Alongside her, Kiefer brings to life a whole gallery of remarkable women—from Maria la Giudea to Mary Anne Atwood—whose contributions to science were often overlooked. Through his bold, symbolic paintings, the artist restores these figures to their rightful place in history.

Ever since his early career in the 1970s, Kiefer has explored the incredible creative power of women. In The Alchemists, he blends myth, memory, and healing to celebrate these pioneering spirits, offering us a chance to see history through a whole new lens.