I COLORI DELLA MIA TERRA
International Painting Competition
From an idea of Alberto Codini
Arti critic Prof. Vittorio Maria de Bonis
Curator Annacarla Merone
Collaborating to the project Rosamaria Bloise e Barbara Polisena
Organization Associazione Culturale Test’Art
CONCEPT
This international painting competition invites artists from all over the world to explore and represent, through colors, the very essence of their land of origin. The goal is to create a visual dialogue that transcends geographical boundaries, celebrating cultural diversity and the richness of traditions and landscapes.
COMPETITION THEME
The theme, “The Colours of my Land“, is an invitation to a deep and personal reflection. Participants are called upon to represent not only the objective reality of their places of origin but also their intimate perception and the emotions derived from them. Colors become the universal language to express the identity of a people, their history, their myths, and their hopes..
The theme can be interpreted in various ways::
• Landscapes and Nature: The distinctive color palette of a landscape, from the warm tones of deserts to the vibrant hues of tropical forests, cold skies of the north to the blue of the sea of the south.
• Culture and Traditions: The chromatic palette of traditional clothing, folk festivals, markets, and historical architecture..
• Emotions and Memory: How the colors of a place are linked to childhood memories, sensations, light filtering through a window.
• Identity and History: The symbolic use of colors to narrate the history of a people or the social struggles that have characterized and continue to characterize their identity.
TECHNIQUES
Works must be original and created specifically for this event. Works realized with any painting technique are accepted, including::
• Oil
• Acrylic
• Watercolour
• Mixed Media
CATEGORIES
The competition is open to all artists, professional and amateur, with no age limits. To promote and encourage new generations of artists, the “The Colors of my Land” International Painting Competition includes a special category dedicated to Students. This section is reserved for those enrolled in art-focused high schools, and fine arts academies, offering a dedicated platform to showcase their creativity. The "Student" category selection process will take place prior to the main competition.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE JURY
Vittorio Maria de Bonis. Literary historian and art critic. Following his thesis at Sapienza University on "The Name of the Rose" which was included in the official biography of the novel by Umberto Eco's own wish, he has long undertaken an esteemed activity of artistic and literary consultation and dissemination for institutional bodies, national and international entities and companies, RAI, and radio and television media. He holds conferences on ancient and modern art, serves as an expert for the Court and the Chamber of Commerce of Rome, is a consultant and expert for the historical museum of the Carabinieri Corps, an expert in historical fencing for CONI, and a consultant for film and television fiction productions set in Italy from the Renaissance to the modern era.
ABOUT US
This competition, conceived by Alberto Codini and curated by Annacarla Merone, is organised by the Test’Art association, whose aim is to promote culture and emerging artists, striving to give visibility to those who are often outside traditional circuits. Click here for more information about Test’Art.
COMPETITION STRUCTURE AND RULES
The competition is designed to combine the interest of public participation with the rigor of professional evaluation. It is divided into two main phases, ensuring transparency and meritocracy.
All artists must register on this web platform following the instructions corresponding to the category Senior or the category Students as below.
Senior
PHASE 1: Online Selection
1) Registration: Each participant uploads their personal data, a short bio, and images of their work with a description (up to a maximum of 5 works).
Registration Deadlines:
– Up to December 31, 2025, including the first artwork – €40.00
– Standard registration from January 1, 2026, to April 30, 2026, including the first artwork – €60.00
– Last-minute registration from May 1 to May 15, 2026, including the first artwork – €80.00
Each additional artwork submitted will cost €15.00, up to a maximum of 4 works.
2) Public Voting: After registration, works will be displayed in an online gallery where the public can vote. The 10 most voted works will proceed to the final phase. A special prize of 500,00 Euro will be awarded to the artist whose work receives the highest number of votes..
3) Jury Selection: Parallel to the online vote, an expert jury will select 50 additional worksthat will also enter the final phase. The Judges will not only focus on technique but also on the originality of the interpretation, the strength of the message and the capacity to evoke emotion.
4) The Jury will be consist of:
– Prof. Vittorio Maria de Bonis, Art Critic (Jury President)
– Annacarla Merone, Association President
– Other prominent personalities from the world of culture.
PHASE 2: Exhibition and Award Ceremony in Rome
The 60 chosen artworks (10 chosen by the public and 50 by the jury) will be displayed in a one-week exhibition in a.prestigious location in Rome.
1) The Exhibition: The works will be visible to the public, industry professionals, collectors, embassy representatives, and journalists.
2) Final Judgment: During the exhibition, jury members will evaluate the 60 works and select the three winners.
3) The Award Ceremony: The award ceremony will be held during the exhibition's finissage. Awards will be presented on the final day of the exhibition. In addition to prize money (starting at € 3,500.00), the three winners will receive an official review from Prof. de Bonis. Further prizes will be officially announced on the Test'Art website.
4) Benefits for Finalists:All 60 finalist artists will receive a certificate of participation and a copy of the official exhibition catalogue. Their participating work will also be registered and listed on the Artprice
website - the global leader in art market information, provided they meet Artprice's requirements and have agreed to the sales terms with Test'Art.
Musical interludes and/or other entertainment will be organized during the vernissage and finissage to enhance the experience, provided the host structure allows it.
Student
PHASE 1: Online Selection
1) Registration: Each participant uploads their personal data, a short bio, and images of their work with a description (up to a maximum of 5 works).
Registration Deadlines:
– Up to December 31, 2025, including the first artwork – €20.00
– Standard registration from January 1, 2026, to January 30, 2026, including the first artwork – €25.00
– Last-minute registration from February 1 to February 15, 2026, including the first artwork – €30.00
Each additional artwork submitted will cost €15.00, up to a maximum of 4 works.
2) Public Voting: After registration, works will be displayed in an online gallery where the public can vote. The 5 most voted works will advance to the final phase. A special prize of 300,00 Euro will be awarded to the artist whose work receives the highest number of votes.
3) Jury Selection: Parallel to the online voting, a jury of experts will select 5 additional artworks that will advance to the final phase. Not only technique will be evaluated, but also the originality of the interpretation, the strength of the message, and the capacity to evoke emotion.
4) The Jury will be consist of:
– Prof. Vittorio Maria de Bonis, Art Critic (Jury President)
– Annacarla Merone, Association President
– Other prominent personalities from the world of culture.
PHASE 2: Exhibition and Award Ceremony in Rome
The 10 final artworks (5 chosen by the public and 5 by the jury) (5 chosen by the public and 5 by the jury) will be displayed alongside the 60 Senior finalists in the one-week exhibition in a prestigious location in Rome. During this period, the jury will evaluate the ten works and select the winner, awarding the prize during finissage.