Osvaldo Licini by Fainplast Award

The Osvaldo Licini by Fainplast Award stems from an idea by Arte Picena 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 20th 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 the artists: they must be Italian or live permanently in Italy; their work must mainly be painting; they must not be older than 64 (Osvaldo Licini’s age at his death); they must have taken part in at least one large show in Italy or abroad (biennial, quadriennial, or equally important exhibitions); they must not have already won the award. The winning artist in 2021 was Marco Neri; in 2022, Riccardo Baruzzi; in 2023, Valerio Nicolai, and in 2024, Luca Bertolo.

In 2025, one of the five finalists of the award was chosen from the Pittura XXI section of Arte Fiera by a jury composed of a judge appointed by the Picena Contemporary Art Association and of two contemporary art professionals selected by Arte Fiera.

The artist selected went into the finals with a minimum of 3 votes (to which those of other external jurors may have been added) and competed with other finalists voted by external jurors.

Jury:
Roberta Faraotti, collector
Bernardo Follini, Senior Curator, Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin
Pier Paolo Pancotto, Independent curator