Who we are
Milano Painting Academy is a high-level training institution in drawing and painting, innovative and professional, that reinterprets the spirit and methods of Renaissance workshops in a contemporary key — where art was learned by working side by side with the master, from life and in natural light.
The Artistic Director of MPA is Nicola Verlato, one of the most important contemporary artists on the international scene: painter, sculptor, architect, and musician. Under his authoritative guidance, Milano Painting Academy has established itself as an institution of absolute excellence, unique in Italy, thanks to a team of top-level artist-instructors recognized nationally and internationally.
A powerful, passionate, and close-knit group, capable of offering students a comprehensive, rigorous, and inspired vision of contemporary figurative art, combining the solidity of tradition with new technologies.
An extraordinary faculty made up of professionals who not only teach but live and produce art at the highest levels, giving MPA a unique identity in the field of artistic education.
MPA is open to everyone, at any age and any level: absolute beginners, enthusiasts, or professional artists in training. Everyone can join and grow at their own pace in a creative, inclusive, and engaging environment.
Our values
The Milano Painting Academy was born from a deeply anti-academic idea: to put artistic practice at the very center of the learning experience.
Unlike institutions that favor a theoretical and detached approach, we teach how to create art with the hands, the mind, and the eye. We believe that drawing is a cognitive and design process—not just an aesthetic pursuit.
Working in a living workshop, where practice is daily and shared between students and masters, is the key to genuine artistic and personal growth. That’s why we created an environment where learning happens through doing, supported by a team of instructors unmatched in quality and expertise, and recognized internationally.
Our goal is to train artists, not just theorists: people capable of expressing themselves with technical mastery, critical insight, and authentic expressiveness.
The Creation
Milano Painting Academy was founded in Milan in the spring of 2021 by a group of professionals from the art and culture world, in collaboration with the Fondazione Maimeri, which has always been committed to promoting artistic practice as a form of social expression.
The idea was to create an accessible and inspiring art school where anyone—regardless of age or skill level—could develop their abilities in a stimulating and practical environment, without formalities or barriers, but with a strong focus on the quality of teaching.
The project came to life in a charming space in the heart of Milan, which today hosts ateliers, artist studios, exhibitions, workshops, cultural events, and residencies, transforming education into a living and shared experience every day.
Community
The Milano Painting Academy is also an active and inclusive cultural community, where generations, experiences, and diverse cultures coexist. Just like in Renaissance workshops, knowledge is passed on through dialogue, daily practice, and the sharing of tools, references, thought, and artistic vision.
Every student—whether very young or adult, beginner or advanced—is an integral part of a working group that grows and creates together, in constant dialogue with instructors and fellow artists.
The Academy is a vibrant, open, and multicultural place where you learn not only the art of painting but also the value of collaboration, active observation, and collective growth.
