The Fondazione Stelline (Stelline Foundation) was established in 1986 by the Region of Lombardy and the City of Milan with the aim to stimulate the development of cultural, social and economic initiatives. In recent years the attention has shifted more and more towards the promotion and research of national and international contemporary artists and their works.
The permanent collection consists of 30 pieces of contemporary art, some of which are installations made specifically for the site. Regularly changing exhibitions complement the collection.
The Foundation is housed in the historical Palazzo delle Stelline, once the monastery of St. Maria della Stella and since the 17th century a girls orphanage (see also Museo Martinitt e Stelline). The Palazzo is located opposite the famous church of Santa Maria delle Grazie which contains The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.