I’m very pleased to be able to announce that seven Italian artists and their work have made it to the finals of the Celeste Prize 2009.

There were some 46 finalists in total.  The work of all the finalists will be on view in Berlin, during the Art Forum, at the Alte AEG Fabrik, Voltastrasse 5 from the 25 to 28 September 2009.

You can participate too.

Here are the Italian artists who made it to the finals, along with links to their work on Celeste Prize:

PAINTING PRIZE

Tommaso Neri – from Bologna – ‘Wake Up‘

PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL GRAPHICS PRIZE

Olivier Fermariello – from Rome, lives in Berlin – ‘Monsieur et Madame Vielle à la plage’

INSTALLATION, SCULPTURE & PERFORMANCE PRIZE

Aesop Studio – from Volterra (Pisa), lives in Rome – ‘Quintetto’

Youngju Oh – From south Sud Korea, lives in Milan – ‘MetamorPHOSis’

LIVE MEDIA PRIZE

Abstract Birds – Group from Salerno, Live in London – ‘Celeste Motus’

Gianluca Beccari – from Ferrara, lives in Bologna -‘Mutazioni’

Otolab  – Group from Milan – ‘ Les Champs Magnétiques’

The motivation behind the choices of the judges involved in the Celeste Prize 2009 contest can be found here:  Celeste: Between Heaven and Earth’, catalogue text reveals motivations behind this year’s choices

Note

Anyone, regardless of their being part of the Celeste Prize community, can contribute their comments on the works listed via the Choices section.

Special Mentions for other Italian Artists

In addition, another 27 Italian artists received ’special mentions’ for the work they submitted to the Celeste Prize 2009 contest.

Let’s hope that one of the Italian artists listed wins the grand prize.  Some €40,000 will be distributed to the winners.