Curated in collaboration with Triennale Milano, the new series of official posters for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games brings together two voices of contemporary Italian illustration: Olimpia Zagnoli and Carolina Altavilla. Two different yet complementary perspectives, able to translate the Olympic spirit into images that speak of energy, inclusion, and shared beauty.
In her “Olympic Vision”, Zagnoli imagines a face wearing glasses shaped like the five interlaced rings. It’s an ironic and poetic gesture at once, becoming a metaphor for connection and community. The solid colors and soft forms typical of her visual language turn the gaze into a symbol of participation: every person — athlete, spectator, or simply a curious onlooker — contributes their own energy to creating the harmony of Milan Cortina 2026. The illustration thus becomes an anthem to diversity and the joy of sharing.
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The Paralympic poster, by Carolina Altavilla, instead tells of the strength of movement. Its composition encompasses six disciplines — from alpine skiing to wheelchair curling — in a dance of bodies and fluid lines, where the power of sport meets the grace of human expression. Bright colors and the dynamism of the figures make visible the dialogue between emotion and resilience, turning every athletic gesture into a sign of freedom and connection.
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Both works, though different in style, share a single intention: to celebrate humanity through sport and art. At a time when images have become the most immediate language, Zagnoli and Altavilla’s posters manage to capture the spirit of Milan Cortina 2026 with authenticity and lightness, making visible what the Olympics and Paralympics truly represent — an encounter of visions, cultures, and possibilities.
Read also: The ten artists shaping the future of the Olympics and Paralympics
