The vibrant and multifaceted creative landscape of Milan will take center stage in the forthcoming Summer 2026 issue of Dazed magazine, as the publication shines a spotlight on an exceptional selection of creatives from its Dazed Club community. This initiative underscores Dazed‘s ongoing commitment to nurturing and showcasing emerging and established talent across a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines. The featured individuals, a dynamic mix of DJs, designers, visual artists, photographers, and more, represent the pulsating heart of Milan’s contemporary cultural scene. Dazed Club, an integral part of the Dazed ecosystem, serves as a global platform designed to connect creatives worldwide. By focusing on Milan for its Summer 2026 issue, Dazed not only highlights the city’s rich artistic heritage but also acknowledges its evolving role as a hub for avant-garde expression and innovation. The selection process, though not explicitly detailed, suggests a rigorous curation aimed at identifying individuals who are not only technically skilled but also possess a unique vision and contribute significantly to their respective fields. The Summer 2026 issue promises an in-depth exploration of these Milan-based talents, offering readers a glimpse into their creative processes, inspirations, and personal philosophies. This feature is more than just a showcase; it’s an endorsement of the power of community and collaboration in driving artistic evolution. The Dazed Club app, where aspiring creatives can gain exposure and connect with peers, plays a crucial role in this ecosystem, fostering a pipeline of talent that fuels such editorial features. A Tapestry of Milanese Creativity The selection for the Summer 2026 issue paints a compelling portrait of Milan’s diverse creative scene, showcasing individuals who are pushing boundaries and redefining contemporary art and culture. Bbpeachfuzz: The Sonic Alchemist of Maximalism Bbpeachfuzz, the artistic project of Peruvian artist and musician Catterina Raffo, embodies a maximalist sensibility that thrives on excess, sentimentality, and pop-cultural saturation. Based in Milan, Raffo’s work, which spans sound, moving image, and installation, draws heavily from the visual density of Latin American urban life. She constructs intricate, fictionalized narratives that delve into themes of love, desire, heartbreak, self-mythology, and emotional transformation. As Bbpeachfuzz, Raffo translates this aesthetic into immersive sonic collages. Her music is characterized by a fusion of hazy ambient textures, fragmented club rhythms, and diaristic songwriting. Eschewing polished minimalism, she finds profound beauty in the unresolved and the beautifully messy. When asked about her essential carry, Raffo cites her phone charger, acknowledging the modern necessity for constant connection and "doom scrolling," alongside her keys, a testament to her practical nature. Her favorite Milanese pastime involves seeking out Peruvian bodegas in the Portello Quartiere for a relaxed beer, a personal connection to her heritage within the bustling Italian metropolis. Francesco Fava: Conceptual Glamour and Digital Aura Francesco Fava, an Italian art director, make-up artist, and product developer, operates at the dynamic intersection of fashion and beauty. Dividing his time between Milan and Paris, Fava’s practice is dedicated to exploring conceptual glamour and the evolving role of beauty in an era defined by digital media, nostalgia, and the ceaseless circulation of images. Through his work in makeup, writing, and visual storytelling, he examines glamour not merely as an aesthetic but as a potent tool for self-construction, envisioning beauty as a contemporary form of magic. Fava’s formative years in Manchester, a city steeped in vibrant music subcultures, ignited his interest in fashion and makeup as powerful signifiers of identity. His subsequent relocation to Milan provided the ideal environment to refine his artistic vision. His "glam-bag" is a meticulously curated collection of cosmetics and fragrances, reflecting his role as the group’s designated beauty expert, ready for any occasion. Essential to his daily life are noise-cancelling headphones, a necessary respite from the urban clamor of the Milanese metro. His recommendation for experiencing Milan centers on "Viperrr," a queer, fashion-forward Friday night haunt that transforms getting dressed into an integral part of the event. The club’s eclectic mix of techno, hardcore, hyperpop, and classic gay anthems ensures a consistently exhilarating experience. Lavinia Fucili: The Intuitive Architect of Style Lavinia Fucili, a fashion stylist and creative, navigates the liminal space between fashion and visual storytelling. Her work is characterized by an exploration of the tension between the polished and the deeply personal, drawing inspiration from eclectic sources ranging from internet rabbit holes to serendipitous everyday encounters. Fucili’s approach is guided by intuition and curiosity, a constant state of evolution informed by an obsessive observation of even the most minute details. Whether orchestrating behind-the-scenes magic or conceptualizing creative visions, she pursues ideas that possess an element of surprise and profound emotional resonance. In her bag, Fucili prioritizes headphones and a signature perfume. Headphones, she explains, possess the transformative power to turn any mundane journey or challenging day into a cinematic experience. Fragrance, for her, is an extension of personal narrative, an olfactory signature that precedes verbal introduction and lingers in memory. Her ultimate Milanese experience involves engaging with events and social gatherings organized by the Lost ID Collective, a community that fosters genuine connection, self-expression, and creativity – qualities she believes have been a vital addition to the city’s cultural fabric. She emphasizes that the most authentic Milan is discovered through the individuals who imbue it with life. Lina Giselle: Bridging Heritage and Digital Culture Lina Giselle, known by her DJ moniker Gs.elle, is an Afro-Colombian creative based in Milan whose artistic practice fluidly integrates music, fashion, and digital culture. As a DJ, model, and content creator, she draws deeply from her Colombian heritage and her lived experience as an Afro-Latina in Italy. Her work serves as a powerful exploration of identity, self-expression, and the formation of community. Influenced by the vibrant rhythms of Latin Club culture and sounds from the Global South, Giselle’s creative output is intrinsically linked to the people, places, and cultural movements that have shaped her trajectory. This includes Milan’s underground queer nightlife and the broader diasporic communities with which she feels a profound connection. Her most prized possession in her bag is an ever-present lip balm, a testament to her commitment to always looking and feeling her best. When asked about the quintessential Milanese experience, Giselle points to exploring the city’s underground nightlife, particularly queer and diasporic parties, as the nexus of exciting sounds and influential individuals. She highlights these often-underfunded scenes as the driving force behind Milan’s evolving club culture, emphasizing their resilience and innovative spirit. Mason Francis: Documenting the Collisions of Culture Mason Francis, a British-born photographer and art director, has transitioned from the vibrant dancefloors of Brighton and Bristol to Milan, where he now crafts content for Dsquared2. However, his creative endeavors extend beyond the corporate realm into the city’s nocturnal underbelly. After hours, Francis meticulously documents Milan’s nightlife, capturing the often-unseen machinations of its fashion scene and the diverse individuals who populate it. His photographic work delves into themes of cultural excess, hedonistic rituals, and the intriguing collapse between high and low culture – the moments where glamour confronts the mundane realities of a party winding down. Raised in an Essex seaside town, Francis imbues his work with an intense urgency, a narrative driven by a constant pursuit of romanticized living in a world of perceived diminishing returns. His favorite item in his bag is a small ceramic urn containing the "ashes of his twinkhood," a symbolic representation of his past identity. His camera’s SD card, filled with intimate portraits of friends and what he playfully terms "crime scene evidence," is a close second. For the quintessential Milanese experience, Francis champions aperitivo, particularly those that evolve from civilized beginnings to a more depraved conclusion, often leading to his most compelling photographic discoveries. His current bar rotation includes Atypique, Bolo Bolo, and Deus Café. A close second recommendation is a contemplative wander through the Cimitero Monumentale, a personal statement of artistic presence amidst Milan’s established elite. Matteo Galvani: The Dynamic Visual Storyteller Matteo Filippo Galvani, a freelance director and content creator based in Milan, commands a distinctive visual language that fluidly bridges authorship and the fast-paced, millisecond-driven aesthetic of social media content. His professional portfolio spans sport documentaries, branded content, and commercials for high-profile clients such as Red Bull, Adidas, Hublot, Netflix, MotoGP, and the Olympics. His work is characterized by an economy of time, ensuring that every frame is impactful and contributes to a compelling narrative. In his bag, Galvani keeps a guitar pick, symbolizing his readiness to inject energy and spontaneity into any situation. His humorous take on the best Milanese activity is to "leave for the holidays," but he quickly follows with a more earnest observation: Milan’s strategic location offers unparalleled access to diverse landscapes, including seas, mountains, and lakes, all within a short drive. This accessibility allows for a dynamic lifestyle that balances urban engagement with the tranquility of nature. Red Longo: Graffiti’s Urban Pulse in High Fashion Red Longo, a multidisciplinary visual artist residing in Milan, seamlessly integrates graffiti culture, painting, and fashion design into his practice. His aesthetic is defined by its bold symbolism, exploring the intricate dialogue between individual identity and the urban environment. Longo has earned recognition for his ability to translate raw street authenticity into collaborations within the high-end professional sphere, establishing himself as a distinctive voice in the contemporary creative landscape. His work is a continuous investigation of the present, transforming personal experiences into a universal visual language that transcends traditional artistic boundaries. Longo’s bag is an extension of his artistic identity, invariably containing spray cans, markers, and his sketchbook. These tools are essential for his constant creative output. He describes Milan not as a city to merely visit but to experience. His advice for truly grasping its essence involves looking beyond the superficial, navigating its hidden layers, and immersing oneself in the studios of emerging creatives where research and practice converge. He advocates for bypassing tourist trails in favor of independent exhibitions and off-site galleries, asserting that the most courageous work resides within the city’s unconventional circuits. Complementing this artistic exploration, he suggests engaging with the local culinary scene by prioritizing establishments that value substance over pretension. His overarching strategy is to embrace the city’s inherent chaos, observe its minute details, and allow this immersion to fuel creative breakthroughs. Rochelle Pura: The Intersection of Digital Culture and Club Music Rochelle Pura, a Milan-based graphic designer and DJ of Filipino descent, has carved out a unique niche within the city’s creative underground. Her multidisciplinary practice skillfully merges experimental visuals with a profound interest in digital subcultures, internet nostalgia, and contemporary visual language. As a DJ, her sets traverse genres including experimental electronic, post-club, digicore, and hyperpop, exploring the intricate connections between internet culture, emotionally resonant club music, and cutting-edge electronic sounds. Through her work in both visual design and music, Pura investigates how digital culture shapes collective memory and fosters new forms of creative expression, all while cultivating an independent space within the local scene. Pura’s most indispensable item in her bag is her eyebrow bleach kit, a testament to her dedication to maintaining a specific aesthetic, even for emergency touch-ups. Sunscreen is another essential, given the intensity of the Milanese sun, alongside her preferred Winston Super Line cigarettes. Her perspective on Milan’s summer activities is candid: "Honestly, now that it’s summer, the best thing to do is leave." However, if she’s in the city, her ideal scenario involves aperitivo at Balay with remaining friends, romanticizing Milan during its quieter moments. She also praises the city’s culinary offerings, highlighting Sugo Milano as a favored dining spot. Shaïna Gabala: Exploring Identity Through a Global Lens Shaïna Gabala, an Ivorian photographer and art director based in Milan, brings a rich global perspective to her work. Having been born in Côte d’Ivoire and raised across various countries, her art is deeply concerned with the construction of identity and belonging, as well as the interconnectedness between people and places. Her practice operates at the confluence of fashion, documentary photography, and visual storytelling. Gabala is driven by a desire to craft narratives that celebrate individual uniqueness while simultaneously revealing the universal threads that bind humanity. Her artistic research is rooted in a profound sense of curiosity, employing image-making as a means to deepen her understanding of both herself and others. Gabala’s bag contains a mini bubble wand, an unusual but cherished item. She explains its purpose as a source of whimsy and dopamine when feeling stressed, offering a lighthearted antidote to pressure. Regarding the best Milanese activities, she points to the city’s pervasive art scene, encompassing museums, fashion, architecture, and cinema. She also suggests leisurely hangouts in Parco Sempione, ideal for people-watching, or extended aperitivos that can last for hours, embodying a more relaxed pace of Milanese life. Sofia Masiello: Audiovisual Narratives and Embodied Creation Sofia Masiello, a visual artist, works across the audiovisual spectrum, encompassing photography, filmmaking, music videos, installation, and fashion. Her practice is fundamentally rooted in audiovisual storytelling, which she expands through digital tools to construct fictional and sensory narrative worlds. Initially shaped within structured digital and production environments, Masiello’s work has evolved through a deliberate process of detachment from rigid systems and external frameworks. Her current creative output is increasingly grounded in nature, embracing more embodied, intuitive forms of creation and artistic research. Masiello’s favorite item in her bag is a small essential oil blend from a local herbalist, used for grounding, safety, and, naturally, scent. She notes its amusing effect at parties, where its scent can either disappoint those expecting poppers or pleasantly surprise them. Her ideal Milanese experience involves a leisurely Saturday morning at a "mercatino" (market), slowly browsing stalls for treasures before heading to the food market for fresh fruit. This unhurried pursuit of simple pleasures, combined with people-watching, sunshine, and the joy of getting pleasantly lost in the city, represents her perfect Milanese moment. The Dazed Club Initiative: Fostering Creative Ecosystems The spotlight on Milanese creatives within the Dazed Club community for the Summer 2026 issue of Dazed magazine is a testament to the publication’s forward-thinking approach to cultural journalism. By actively identifying and promoting emerging talent, Dazed not only enriches its editorial content but also contributes to the growth of a vibrant and interconnected global creative ecosystem. The Dazed Club app, serving as a digital nexus for these creatives, plays a pivotal role in democratizing exposure and facilitating invaluable connections. This strategic focus on Milan signifies the city’s enduring appeal as a nexus of fashion, design, and artistic innovation, attracting and cultivating a new generation of cultural influencers. The Summer 2026 issue promises to be a significant document of this dynamic creative moment, offering readers an exclusive look at the minds shaping the future of art and culture. Post navigation Camille Vivier: A Retrospective of Illusion and Transformation at MEP Paris
