Osvaldo Licini by Fainplast Award

The Osvaldo Licini by Fainplast Award stems from an idea by the Picena Contemporary Art Association with the collaboration of the City of Ascoli Piceno and the Fainplast Group: an institution, an association, and a private company uniting to honor a 20 th century master.

The award is dedicated to Italian painting, and is unique in that it does not have an internal jury. Instead, about forty contemporary art professionals, including curators, critics, collectors, museum directors, and journalists, are requested to provide the name of two artists they believe have done outstanding work during the year or have achieved a major career. There are five criteria for naming such artist: he/she must be Italian or live permanently in Italy; his/her work must mainly be painting; he/she must not be older than 64 (Osvaldo Licini’s age at his death); he/she must have taken part in at least one large show in Italy or abroad (biennial, quadrennial, or equally important exhibitions); must not have already won the award. In 2021, the winner was Marco Neri; in 2022, Riccardo Baruzzi; in 2023, Valerio Nicolai, in 2024, Luca Bertolo, and in 2025, Paola Angelini.

For the 2026 edition, one of the five finalists will be chosen from the Pittura XXI section of Arte Fiera by a jury composed of a judge appointed by the Picena Contemporary Art Association and by two contemporary art professionals chosen by Arte Fiera.

The selected artist will go into the final with a minimum of 3 votes (to which those of other external jurors may be added) and will compete with other finalists voted by external jurors. For the 2026 edition, the work by the selected finalist will be acquired by the Osvaldo Licini by Fainplast Award.