Nicolas Party’s candy-colored art may remind viewers of computer-generated objects in a virtual space. Working most often in pastel, Party plays with color and form, allowing surreal worlds to spring up like mutant mirages. “I definitely want to create a world that is inviting and a bit enchanted,” Party says. Sometimes he makes references to ancient folklore, other times he looks to art history for inspiration. At the Poldi Pezzoli, Party has created triptychs that stand freely in rooms, positioned alongside paintings by the likes of Andrea Mantegna and Sandro Botticelli. New oval portraits and still lifes hang from ancient gallery walls. This is Party’s first solo show in Italy. —Elena Clavarino