Dazed, the influential contemporary culture magazine, is set to feature a curated selection of Milan-based Dazed Club creatives in its highly anticipated Summer 2026 issue. This initiative underscores Dazed Club’s commitment to showcasing exceptional emerging talent from its global community, spanning diverse disciplines from DJing and design to visual art and photography. The forthcoming issue promises an in-depth look at the individuals who are shaping Milan’s vibrant cultural landscape, offering readers a glimpse into their innovative practices and unique perspectives.
The Dazed Club Initiative: Context and Mission
Dazed Club, an extension of the iconic Dazed media brand, was established as a global digital platform designed to connect, nurture, and spotlight burgeoning creative talent worldwide. Launched with the explicit goal of democratizing access and fostering community among artists, designers, musicians, and other cultural innovators, the Dazed Club app serves as a digital hub where members can share their portfolios, collaborate, and gain exposure to industry leaders. This latest feature in the Summer 2026 issue of Dazed magazine represents a significant milestone for the platform, offering ten Milanese creatives an unparalleled opportunity for international recognition and validating the platform’s role as a vital incubator for next-generation talent.
The selection process for Dazed Club features is rigorous, focusing on originality, relevance, and the potential impact of an artist’s work. By actively seeking out and platforming creatives outside traditional industry gatekeepers, Dazed Club aims to amplify voices that might otherwise remain unheard, reflecting a broader commitment by Dazed to push boundaries and define the zeitgeist. This Milan spotlight follows a chronological series of regional showcases, reinforcing the idea that groundbreaking creativity flourishes in diverse urban centers globally, with Milan emerging as a particular hotbed of contemporary innovation. Industry observers note that such dedicated platforming initiatives are increasingly crucial in a competitive creative landscape, providing a tangible pathway for artists to transition from local recognition to global prominence.
Milan: A Crucible of Creative Innovation
Milan, renowned globally as a powerhouse of fashion and design, is increasingly recognized for its dynamic and multifaceted creative ecosystem that extends far beyond the runways. The city’s strategic position in Northern Italy, coupled with its rich history of art, craftsmanship, and industrial innovation, has cultivated an environment ripe for artistic experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Recent economic data from the Italian Chamber of Commerce indicates that the creative industries contribute significantly to Milan’s GDP, with a growing number of independent studios, galleries, and cultural events attracting international talent.
This thriving environment is characterized by a unique blend of established luxury houses and a burgeoning underground scene, where emerging artists find both inspiration and a receptive audience. The city’s universities and academies are major contributors, producing a continuous stream of fresh talent in fields ranging from fashion and graphic design to digital media and contemporary art. Milan’s cultural vibrancy is further enhanced by its diverse population, with international residents bringing global perspectives that enrich local artistic narratives. The Dazed Club’s decision to focus on Milanese creatives for its Summer 2026 issue is a testament to the city’s evolving identity as a crucial nexus for contemporary culture, moving beyond its traditional image to embrace a more eclectic and experimental artistic identity.
Spotlight on Milan’s Visionaries
The ten creatives featured in the Summer 2026 issue exemplify the breadth and depth of Milan’s artistic talent, each bringing a distinct voice and innovative approach to their respective fields.
Bbpeachfuzz, Visual Artist
Catterina Raffo, known artistically as Bbpeachfuzz, is a Peruvian artist and musician whose work vividly encapsulates the concept of maximalism. Born and raised in Lima and now based in Milan, Raffo’s practice spans sound, moving image, and installation, consistently embracing excess, sentimentality, and a vibrant pop-cultural overload. Her visual artistry draws heavily from the dense, chaotic beauty of Latin American urban life, constructing intricate, fictionalized narratives that explore universal themes of love, heartbreak, desire, self-mythology, and emotional transformation. Through Bbpeachfuzz, Raffo translates this intense sensibility into her music, crafting immersive sonic collages that weave together hazy ambient textures, fragmented club rhythms, and diaristic songwriting. Her resistance to polished minimalism is a deliberate choice, finding profound beauty in the messy, the imperfect, and the unresolved aspects of human experience. When asked about her essential daily items, Bbpeachfuzz pragmatically points to her cellphone charger, essential for "doom scrolling," reflecting a modern artist’s engagement with digital life. For experiencing Milan, she recommends "beers at the Peruvian bodegas in the Portello Quartiere," highlighting a personal connection to her heritage within her adopted city.
Francesco Fava, Beauty Creative
Francesco Fava, an Italian art director, make-up artist, and product developer, navigates the intersection of fashion and beauty with a keen conceptual eye. Based between Milan and Paris, his work delves into the evolving role of beauty in an era dominated by digital media, nostalgic aesthetics, and the relentless circulation of images. Fava examines glamour not merely as an aesthetic language but as a powerful tool for self-construction, crafting narratives where beauty transcends superficiality to become a form of contemporary magic. His formative years in Manchester, immersed in the city’s vibrant music subcultures, ignited his interest in fashion and make-up as potent signifiers of identity. This foundational experience provided a springboard for his move to Milan for university, where he found an ideal environment to refine his unique vision and experiment freely. Francesco’s "glam-bag," filled with cosmetics and fragrance, is his indispensable companion, embodying his role as a "designated beauty expert" ready for any spontaneous beauty emergency. His top Milan recommendation, the queer and fashion-forward party Viperrr, speaks to his appreciation for spaces where self-expression and elaborate styling are celebrated, affirming that "getting ready is always the best part of a night out."
Lavinia Fucili, Fashion Stylist
Lavinia Fucili is a fashion stylist and creative whose work fluidly bridges the realms of high fashion and evocative visual storytelling. Her artistic focus lies in the intriguing tension between the meticulously polished and the deeply personal, drawing inspiration from eclectic sources ranging from obscure internet rabbit holes to fleeting everyday encounters. Fucili’s approach is characterized by its intuitive, curious, and constantly evolving nature, marked by an obsessive attention to detail that often captures nuances overlooked by others. Whether she is orchestrating behind-the-scenes magic or conceptualizing entire creative narratives, her driving force is the pursuit of ideas that are both unexpected and emotionally resonant. Lavinia finds her headphones and a distinctive perfume to be essential items in her bag. Headphones, she explains, transform mundane moments into "music videos," while fragrance is integral to the "story I tell about myself," believing scent communicates profoundly before words are even spoken. For an authentic Milanese experience, Fucili champions attending events and gatherings organized by Lost ID Collective, a community she is part of, emphasizing their role in fostering "genuine connection, self-expression, and creativity," vital elements she believes Milan had previously lacked.
Lina Giselle, DJ & Digital Creative
Lina Giselle, also known as Gs.elle, is an Afro-Colombian creative based in Milan, whose dynamic practice intertwines music, fashion, and digital culture. As a DJ, model, and content creator, Giselle draws deeply from her Colombian heritage and her experiences as an Afro-Latina navigating life in Italy to explore complex themes of identity, self-expression, and community. Her work is profoundly influenced by Latin Club culture and the rich sonic tapestries of the Global South, establishing strong ties to the people, places, and scenes that have shaped her journey. From Milan’s vibrant underground queer nightlife to the broader diasporic communities she connects with, Giselle’s artistry is a celebration of cultural fusion and personal narrative. Her absolute essential in her bag is "my lip balm for sure," a simple yet telling detail of self-care and preparedness. When it comes to Milan, Lina Giselle’s top recommendation is "exploring Milan’s underground nightlife, especially queer and diasporic parties," recognizing them as crucial spaces for exciting new sounds and for pushing the city’s club culture forward despite the challenges they often face.
Mason Francis, Photographer
Mason Francis, a British-born photographer and art director, brings a distinct, often provocative lens to Milan’s creative scene. Having traded the pulsating dancefloors of Brighton and Bristol for Milan in 2020, he dedicates his professional hours to content creation at the Dsquared2 headquarters. Yet, it is after hours that Francis’s unique vision truly comes alive, as he meticulously documents Milan’s nightlife, shedding light on the "messy machinations" behind the city’s glamorous fashion scene and the diverse faces that inhabit it. From raves to runways, and from intimate smoking areas to grand events, Mason is compelled to explore themes of cultural excess, hedonistic rituals, and the fascinating collapse between high and low culture. His work captures the fleeting moments "between the party ending and the Uber arriving," where glamour meets grittiness. A former "twink" from an Essex seaside town, Francis’s life in Milan is driven by an intense pursuit of "romanticized living in a world of diminishing returns." His bag essentials include the symbolic "ashes of my twinkhood" in a ceramic urn, followed by his camera’s SD card, humorously noting it contains both "hot pictures of my friends and probably crime scene evidence also." For Milanese activities, he champions aperitivo culture, particularly those that evolve from "civilized and end up depraved," leading to his best photos, and wandering the Cimitero Monumentale graveyard, which he frames as "haunting the Milanese bourgeoisie."
Matteo Galvani, Director & Creative Producer
Matteo Filippo Galvani stands as a prolific freelance director and content creator based in Milan, distinguished by his expansive work across sport documentary, branded content, and high-profile commercials. His impressive client roster includes industry giants such as Red Bull, Adidas, Hublot, Netflix, MotoGP, and the Olympics, underscoring his versatile talent and broad appeal. Galvani’s visual language is a dynamic synthesis, skillfully balancing distinct authorship with the fast-paced, high-impact aesthetic characteristic of social media-style content, where every millisecond is meticulously crafted for maximum effect. His projects are renowned for their energetic storytelling and precise execution, making him a sought-after creative force in the contemporary visual landscape. In his bag, Matteo always carries "a guitar pick, ’cause you never know when you need to rock the place up," a testament to his spontaneous and energetic personality. While jokingly suggesting the best thing to do in Milan is "to leave for the holidays," he quickly adds a genuine appreciation for the city’s unparalleled access to Italy’s diverse landscapes—sea, mountains, lakes, and countryside—all "just an hour and a half drive away," highlighting Milan’s strategic location as a gateway to broader Italian experiences.
Red Longo, Contemporary Visual Artist
Red Longo is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Milan, whose practice is a powerful fusion of graffiti culture, painting, and fashion design. Through a bold and deeply symbolic aesthetic, Longo meticulously explores the intricate dialogue between individual identity and the sprawling urban landscape. He has garnered recognition for his remarkable ability to translate the raw authenticity of street art into sophisticated, high-end professional collaborations, establishing himself as a distinct and influential voice within the contemporary creative scene. Longo’s work is an ongoing investigation of the present moment, transforming personal experiences into a universal visual language that masterfully defies traditional artistic boundaries. His bag contains his essential tools: "Spray cans, markers, and my sketchbook. They’re an extension of who I am," directly reflecting his hands-on, street-rooted practice. Red Longo believes Milan is "not a city to simply visit; it is a city to experience." He advises immersing oneself in the studios of emerging creatives, seeking out independent exhibitions, and exploring "unconventional circuits" for the most courageous work. He also stresses prioritizing local culinary spots over tourist traps, advocating for embracing chaos, observing small details, and allowing the city to fuel creative breakthroughs.
Rochelle Pura, Graphic Designer & Creative
Rochelle Pura, a Milan-based graphic designer and DJ with Filipino roots, is actively carving out a distinctive space within the city’s burgeoning creative underground. Her multidisciplinary practice is a compelling blend of experimental visuals and a profound interest in digital subcultures, internet nostalgia, and the evolving contemporary visual language. Behind the decks, Pura’s DJ sets are a vibrant journey through experimental electronic, post-club, digicore, and hyperpop sounds, demonstrating her keen ear for the intersections of internet culture, emotionally charged club music, and cutting-edge electronic sounds. Across her visual design and musical endeavors, Rochelle meticulously explores how digital culture profoundly shapes collective memory and facilitates new forms of creative expression, all while forging an independent and impactful presence within the local scene. Rochelle’s favorite thing in her bag is unequivocally her "eyebrow bleach kit," a testament to her dedication to a specific aesthetic, alongside sunscreen for the Milan sun and a pack of Winston Super Line cigarettes. For Milanese activities, she admits, "now that it’s summer, the best thing to do is leave." However, if "stuck here," she cherishes "aperitivo at Balay with the few friends left in town and romanticizing Milan when it finally slows down," and praises Sugo Milano for its exceptional food.
Shaïna Gabala, Visual Artist
Shaïna Gabala, an Ivorian photographer and art director based in Milan, brings a rich, transnational perspective to her visual artistry. Born in Côte d’Ivoire and having lived across multiple countries, her work deeply explores the intricate construction of identity and the elusive feeling of belonging, alongside the profound connections that exist between people and places. Operating at the confluence of fashion, documentary photography, and evocative visual storytelling, Gabala is driven by an innate desire to craft narratives that celebrate individual uniqueness while simultaneously revealing the universal threads that bind humanity. Her artistic practice is fundamentally rooted in curiosity, utilizing image-making as a powerful means to foster a deeper understanding of both ourselves and one another. In a delightful and unexpected twist, Shaïna’s favorite thing in her bag is "one of those mini bubble wands." She explains its purpose: "I don’t smoke, but I will pull one out when I’m stressed or need a little bit of whimsy or dopamine." For Milan, she highlights the pervasive art scene, from museums and fashion to architecture and cinema. She also enjoys the communal "Parco Sempione hang that lasts all day (perfect if you love people watching)," and the enduring "aperitivos that can go on for four hours."
Sofia Masiello, Visual Artist
Sofia Masiello is a compelling visual artist whose practice traverses the expansive audiovisual realm, encompassing photography, filmmaking, music videos, installation, and fashion. Her work is firmly rooted in audiovisual storytelling, expanded and enriched through digital tools that allow her to construct intricate fictional and sensory narrative worlds. Masiello’s artistic journey, initially shaped within structured digital and production environments, has gradually evolved through a process of deliberate detachment from rigid systems and external frameworks. Her current practice is increasingly grounded in nature, embracing more embodied, intuitive forms of creation and artistic research, reflecting a profound shift towards a more organic and personal approach. Sofia’s most cherished item in her bag is "a little essential oil blend from a local herbalist," which she uses to feel "safe, grounded and smell good." She humorously notes that at parties, it either "disappoints or pleasantly surprises" those expecting something else. For the best Milanese experience, Sofia describes "a divine late Saturday morning at ‘mercatino’," where she wanders slowly through stalls, hunts for treasures, and then proceeds to the food market for fresh fruit, savoring the unhurried pace, people-watching, and getting "pleasantly lost in the city."
The Broader Impact: Nurturing Global Creative Talent
The Dazed Club’s ongoing initiative, particularly this spotlight on Milanese creatives in the Summer 2026 issue, holds significant implications for the broader creative industry. By providing a global platform like Dazed magazine to emerging artists, the Dazed Club not only boosts their individual careers but also enriches the global cultural dialogue. This visibility can lead to new collaborations, commissions, and further opportunities, accelerating the professional development of these talents. Furthermore, such features reinforce Milan’s status as a dynamic creative hub, attracting more artists and investment, and fostering an even more vibrant local scene.
The project also highlights a crucial trend in contemporary media: the active role of publications in talent discovery and community building. In an era where digital saturation can make it difficult for individual artists to stand out, curated platforms like Dazed Club offer a vital filter and a stamp of credibility. It’s a symbiotic relationship where the magazine gains fresh, cutting-edge content, and the artists gain invaluable exposure and networking opportunities. This model of talent scouting and promotion is likely to be replicated by other cultural institutions seeking to stay relevant and connected to the pulse of emerging global creativity.
Join the Dazed Club Community
For aspiring creatives worldwide, the Dazed Club continues to be an open door to a global network. Individuals looking for their chance to be featured in future issues or to connect with other creatives in their city are encouraged to download the Dazed Club app. The platform remains dedicated to fostering a diverse and interconnected community, continuously seeking out the next wave of talent to spotlight on its global stage.
