by Redazione 31/10/2026
Categories: Contemporary art / Disclaimer
Five curators and ten prominent figures from the art world will identify and evaluate the nominees for the Luca Beatrice Prize, an award for contemporary painting dedicated to the art critic who passed away prematurely in 2025. The prize is open to Italian artists or those active in Italy who are under 35.
Presented this morning in Turin as part of the 2026 edition of Artissima, the Luca Beatrice Prize is dedicated to the critic and curator who passed away prematurely last year: The first edition of the award, which will be dedicated to emerging figures in contemporary Italian painting, has already entered its operational phase with the announcement of the five jury members and the ten selectors tasked with identifying and evaluating the painters who will compete for the award. The jury will consist of Luca Massimo Barbero, Francesco Bonami, Emanuela Mazzonis di Pralafera, Francesco Stocchi, and Alessandra Troncone—the five curators Luca Beatrice had chosen to showcase contemporary Italian art at the 18th Quadriennale. They will be responsible for reviewing the nominations identified by ten prominent figures from the worlds of art and culture.
The selection of the jury members thus aims to ideally continue a path already initiated by Beatrice, valuing the diversity of critical perspectives and independent judgment. It is precisely this freedom of perspective—along with curiosity toward different artistic languages and a willingness to acknowledge artistic explorations even when they diverge from one’s own expectations—that serves as the stated guiding principle behind the award.
The Prize is sponsored by the Circolo Luca Beatrice, a nonprofit committee first announced at the Turin Book Fair in 2026 and established on the initiative of the critic’s family members: his wife Elisa Candellero, his children Giulia, Stella, Niccolò, and Giovanni, and his sister Arianna Beatrice.
“With this award, we want to offer artists a concrete opportunity for growth and recognition. Its first edition is made possible by the contribution of people who have embraced this commitment with generosity and independence. The presence of the five curators chosen by Luca gives the project a particularly meaningful continuity: the trust he placed in them today becomes trust in the work of the artists we will encounter,” says Evelina Christillin, president of the Luca Beatrice Circle.
The ten selectors, who will change with each edition, will be Lorenzo Balbi, Valerio Berruti, Valentina Bruschi, Giulia Ferracci, Davide Ferri, Daniele Galliano, Damiano Gullì, Caterina Molteni, Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, and Luca Zuccala for the first year. The ten selectors, drawn from diverse fields (ranging from artistic practice to curation, from collecting to cultural journalism), will each be able to propose two candidates, accompanying each nomination with a statement of rationale and documentation related to the artist’s body of work. Unsolicited nominations will not be accepted: the Circolo will verify that the required criteria are met and forward the nominations to the jury.
“We have envisioned a process in which diversity plays a role right from the outset in identifying the artists nominated for the Prize. The ten selectors bring very diverse experiences, sensibilities, and opportunities to engage with art; the jury is then tasked with discussing and making its selection with full autonomy. It is a way of working that recognizes the value of dialogue and leaves room for what we do not yet know,” explains Marco Rainò, a member of the Circolo’s Board of Directors.
The award is open to Italian artists, or artists of any nationality provided they are working in Italy, who are 35 years of age or younger at the time of nomination. The focus is on contemporary painting, with no restrictions on the techniques used and an openness to new forms of expression. The jury will consider the quality and coherence of the artist’s work, the originality of their artistic language, their capacity for experimentation, and their relationship with the contemporary cultural and social context. The goal is to support the artists’ work and foster their professional growth.
Walter Guadagnini, a member of the Club’s Board of Directors, also emphasizes the value of diverse perspectives: “Luca’s freedom of thought was evident in his willingness to take a stand, to engage in discussion, and to allow himself to be surprised by an artist. He had chosen these five curators, recognizing the value of their differences. Having them on the jury means entrusting this first edition to a diversity of perspectives as well; the same principle guided the selection of the jury members, who differ in their roles, cultural approaches, and even generations. The continuity of a truly critical vision of art lies in the way questions are posed to art, leaving the answers open.”
The Circolo Luca Beatrice is chaired by Evelina Christillin, while Elisa Candellero serves as honorary president. The Board of Directors includes Giulio Biino, Walter Guadagnini, Luigi Mascheroni, Cristiana Perrella, Marco Rainò, and Maurizia Rebola; Massimo Feira is the auditor. The association promotes an open, non-ideological, and non-academic vision of contemporary art, with a focus on experimentation and expressive independence. In addition to the Award, its activities include organizing exhibitions and events, publishing initiatives, and collaborations with cultural institutions, with the aim of supporting artistic research and public discourse.
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| The Luca Beatrice Award Unveiled: Judges and Selection Committee Members for the First Edition Announced |
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