Milan, Italy – A new exhibition opening this month at the Galleria 10 Corso Como delves into the evolving narrative of the American West through the lens of photography. “The New American West: Photography in Conversation” will be on display from March 11th to April 7th, 2026, and explores how the region has been constructed, mythologized, and reimagined over nearly a century. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas, which runs from March 19th to 22nd at Superstudiopiù in Milan.
The show brings together both historical and contemporary works, prompting a re-evaluation of the ideals once projected onto the West – freedom, opportunity, and reinvention – and acknowledging the complexities and exclusions inherent in those promises. Rather than presenting a singular story, the exhibition reveals a layered and ever-changing idea of the West, shaped by ambition, displacement, beauty, and contradiction. The exploration of this iconic landscape is particularly timely as understandings of America itself continue to shift.
Co-curated by Alessio de’ Navasques, Howard Greenberg, and Carrie Scott, “The New American West” features the work of photographers including Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Edward Weston, and Joel Meyerowitz alongside new pieces by Maryam Eisler and Alexei Riboud. The exhibition builds on successful presentations in New York and Paris, bringing a uniquely curated experience to Milan’s renowned 10 Corso Como gallery.
The heart of the project lies in the independent explorations of Eisler and Riboud through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah in 2024. Working separately, they each captured the same territories, resulting in strikingly different visual responses. Eisler’s work is described as cinematic and psychologically charged, although Riboud’s is essential, architectural, and contemplative. Their contemporary perspectives reactivate historical works from Greenberg’s archive, demonstrating the enduring power of the West as both a physical place and a space for thought and reflection.
A Dialogue Between Eras
The exhibition doesn’t treat historical photographs as relics of the past, but as living images that continue to influence contemporary Western imagination. Works range from the modernist essentialism of Paul Strand and the sculptural landscapes of Edward Weston to the social observations of Esther Bubley and the unflinching portraits of Diane Arbus. These established masters are juxtaposed with the newer perspectives of Eisler and Riboud, creating a dynamic conversation across generations.
The curatorial team emphasizes that the American West is less a fixed location and more a recurring question, constantly rewritten by those who traverse it. This concept is visually represented by the contrasting approaches of Eisler and Riboud, whose independent journeys through the same landscapes yielded distinct interpretations. Their work underscores the idea that the West is not simply a place, but a continuous process of redefinition.
10 Corso Como and the MIA Photo Fair Connection
10 Corso Como, founded in 1991, has established itself as a pioneering “concept store,” blending fashion, design, and culture. The gallery’s commitment to cultural programming, under the direction of Alessio de’ Navasques, makes it a fitting venue for this exploration of American photography. The exhibition is presented as part of MIA OFF, a satellite program associated with the MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas, which will seize place at Superstudiopiù in Milan from March 19th to 22nd, 2026.
The exhibition’s layout has been specifically designed for the Galleria 10 Corso Como, offering a renewed depth and a rigorous historical-artistic examination of the subject matter. Visitors can expect a carefully curated experience that encourages reflection on the enduring myths and realities of the American West.
Exhibition Details
“The New American West: Photography in Conversation” will be open daily from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM at Galleria 10 Corso Como from March 11th to April 7th, 2026. Admission is free. The exhibition features photographs by Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Esther Bubley, Bruce Davidson, Frank Gohlke, Allen Ginsberg, William Gedney, Lee Friedlander, Kenro Izu, Mary Ellen Mark, Joel Meyerowitz, Wright Morris, Arnold Newman, Robert Adams, Paul Strand, Edward Weston, Wim Wenders, and Minor White, alongside the new works by Eisler and Riboud.
The exhibition acknowledges, with subtlety, that our understanding of America – and the ideals once projected onto the West – is changing in real time. It reflects on what the West once promised, and how those promises were often built on exclusion and hardship, using photography as a medium to preserve, analyze, and revisit these tensions.
As the exhibition closes on April 7th, the conversation it sparks about the American West and its enduring legacy will undoubtedly continue, prompting further exploration and re-evaluation of this iconic region and its place in the collective imagination.
What are your thoughts on the evolving representation of the American West in contemporary art? Share your perspectives in the comments below.
