This May, NABA Talks returns - the public conference series promoted by NABA with the aim of offering the city of Milan an ongoing opportunity for cultural insight and dialogue on art, design and contemporary creative practices. The project continues to serve as an open space for exchange between the academic community and the wider public: university lecturers, researchers, artists, curators and professionals from the cultural and creative sectors are invited to share perspectives, methods and reflections, fostering an accessible debate oriented towards the active participation of citizens.
Structured as a series of 4 events, the format is distinguished by its commitment to civic engagement. Each talk is conceived as an act of public restitution - connecting artistic research produced in academic contexts with the questions, sensibilities and needs of the community. In this sense, NABA Talks sits firmly within the framework of Terza Missione activities, contributing to the recognition of the Academy's social role and to the strengthening of the city's cultural fabric through free, open and inclusive events.
NABA Talks 2026: aims and programme
The 2026 edition of NABA Talks is curated by Simone Domenico Liscio (NABA Course Leader Special Programmes), Fabrizia Bandi (Researcher in Aesthetics, Department of Historical Studies "Federico Chabod"), Roberto P. Malaspina (Research Fellow, Department of Philosophy "Piero Martinetti") and Andrea Pinotti (Professor of Aesthetics, Department of Philosophy "Piero Martinetti").
The four evening events, free and open to the public, held under the patronage of the City of Milan and scheduled for 4, 11, 18 and 25 May 2026, are part of the University's Terza Missione - aimed at disseminating and transferring the outcomes of research beyond academic boundaries and contributing to the social development and cultural enrichment of the territory. The talks will address themes relating to artistic production, design, rapid technological change and its implications for aspects of human experience, including the broader question of gender.
The aim is to make complex phenomena accessible and to encourage informed reflection on some of the central debates in contemporary art. Each talk is structured as a round table in which lecturers and professionals discuss a specific theme, whilst the audience is invited to contribute questions, curiosities and points of view.
NABA Talks 2026: the four events
The NABA Talks 2026 appointments are as follows:
- Monday 4 May 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM, "L'immagine in movimento: gesti, sguardi, dispositivi", at NABA Campus (Via C. Darwin 20, Milan), Room G.04: speakers include Yuri Ancarani (Artist), Vincenzo Estremo (NABA), Barbara Grespi (Università degli Studi di Milano), Roberto Malaspina (Università degli Studi di Milano), Diego Marcon (Artist).
- Monday 11 May 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM, "Dentro lo schermo: Realtà Virtuali tra umano e non umano", at NABA Campus (Via C. Darwin 20, Milan), Room G.04: speakers include Michele Aquila (NABA), Margherita Fontana (Università degli Studi di Milano), Valentina Furian (Artist), Claudia Losi (Artist), Roberto Malaspina (Università degli Studi di Milano), Anthony Marasco (NABA), Federica Villa (Università degli Studi di Pavia).
- Monday 18 May 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM, "Tecnologie del genere: immagini, identità, media", at Università Statale di Milano (Via Festa del Perdono 7, Milan): speakers include Chiara Cappelletto (Università degli Studi di Milano), Carlotta Cossutta (Università degli Studi di Milano), Simone Liscio (NABA), Roberto Malaspina (Università degli Studi di Milano), Giulia Trincardi (Author and Media Analyst), Elvira Vannini (NABA).
- Monday 25 May 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM, "Abitare l'immagine", at NABA Campus (Via C. Darwin 20, Milan), Room G.04: speakers include Fabrizia Bandi (Università degli Studi di Milano), Gloria Cappelletti (Red Eye), Simone Liscio (NABA), Massimo Martignoni (NABA), Luca Poncellini (NABA).
NABA Talks 2026: event details
Monday 4 May 2026, 6 PM to 8 PM
"L'immagine in movimento: gesti, sguardi, dispositivi"
NABA Campus, Via C. Darwin 20, Milan
Room G.04
Free entry - booking required via Eventbrite
Monday 11 May 2026, 6 PM to 8 PM
"Dentro lo schermo: Realtà Virtuali tra umano e non umano"
NABA Campus, Via C. Darwin 20, Milan
Room G.04
Free entry - booking required via Eventbrite
Monday 18 May 2026, 6 PM to 8 PM
"Tecnologie del genere: immagini, identità, media"
Università Statale di Milano, Via Festa del Perdono 7, Milan
Free entry - booking required via Eventbrite
Monday 25 May 2026, 6 PM to 8 PM
"Abitare l'immagine"
NABA Campus, Via C. Darwin 20, Milan
Room G.04
Free entry - booking required via Eventbrite