[Life&Culture]

NO BALL GAMES: MILAN'S GRASSROOTS ART MOVEMENT TAKES SHAPE

Milan's No Ball Games movement challenges art world gatekeeping through participatory events, drawing hundreds to its recent 70 Chiodi exhibition.

image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games
image of the No Ball Games art movement in Milan, founded by photographer Enrico Rassu in 2024. It describes the movement's horizontal hierarchy, philosophy of unrestricted expression, and signature event "70 Chiodi" which allowed hundreds of artists to display work without curation. The piece includes background on Rassu's career as a photographer for musicians and brands, and details how the movement aims to break down barriers in the traditional art world.
Courtesy of No Ball Games

No Ball Games, a movement established in June 2024, emerged from photographer Enrico Rassu's book of the same name. What began as a small collective seeking unrestricted creative expression in Milan has evolved into a platform that brings together diverse urban cultures.

The collective operates with a horizontal hierarchy, co-founded by Rassu alongside writer Greta Scarselli and musician Lvnar (Marco Ferrario). Their philosophy centers on self-expression without commercial pressure—creating personal rules rather than following established paths.

"One morning I woke up thinking about how difficult it had been for me to exist in Milan with my art", Rassu explains. "So much gatekeeping, so many unanswered emails and messages, just trying to show what I love doing. I wanted to create a space where those walls didn't exist".

Since its inception, No Ball Games has attracted writers, freestyle artists, skaters, breakers, bikers, photographers, filmmakers, artists, and musicians. The movement has organized numerous events and collaborated with brands including adidas for a recent campaign launch.

70 Chiodi: Disrupting Art Exhibition Norms

On May 17, No Ball Games organized "70 Chiodi" (70 Nails), a participatory art installation at Spazio Verso in Milan's Paolo Sarpi district. The concept was straightforward: 70 nails on a gallery wall, available to anyone who arrived with artwork to display—no online selection or curation process.

The exhibition welcomed all mediums: photography, graphics, painting, poetry, design, sculpture, installations, and clothing. Each participating artist received a portrait in an on-site photo studio and answered a single interview question: "Why?"

The event drew hundreds of emerging artists and designers, some established names choosing to remain anonymous. Within hours, all available space was filled. Photographers and videographers who follow the movement documented the happening as it unfolded.

A planned second phase featuring sound systems, live sets, and open microphones at the lower floor was cut short when authorities closed the overcrowded event early, requiring participants to remove their works.

"Creating things in today's world seems increasingly difficult, particularly in the art scene. We wanted to create a space where everything was simpler", says Rassu. "We hope institutions will see beyond individual works. We did this for ourselves, but it would be wonderful if this collective project could be supported throughout Italy".

Enrico Rassu: Behind the Movement

Rassu, born in Sassari, Sardinia, established his career as a photographer documenting figures from Italy's music scene, including Sfera Ebbasta, Club Dogo, Marracash, Madame, and Fabri Fibra.

His international work includes following Majid Jordan's European tour and connecting with Drake's OVO Sound label, which led to assignments with the Canadian rapper in Paris and with artist Roy Woods in Italy. Rassu has also photographed IAMDDB, Lous and the Yakuza, and ASAP TyY, while working with brands like Fujifilm, adidas, A-COLD-WALL, Off-White, Zegna, and Apple Music.

After living in London, Rassu returned to Italy to pursue artistic projects beyond traditional photography. In 2022, he created "Marseille, Safe and Sound" with C.P. Company, documenting the brand's presence across different social, political, cultural, and ethnic groups in Marseille. Between 2023 and 2024, he completed "Rosa's Pills," a mental health project featuring a New York documentary and exhibitions in Rome and Trento, supported by Angelini Pharma.

The No Ball Games movement continues to evolve as Rassu and his collaborators create spaces that challenge traditional art world hierarchies and foster unrestricted creative expression across Milan and beyond.

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