2023 Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival: Launch, Journey, and Successful Conclusion

The inaugural "Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival," jointly organized by the City Hall of Treviso, Italy, the Italian Cultural and Art Exchange Association, and Sheng Xinyu Art (China), was officially launched and successfully concluded in 2023. The festival attracted watercolor artists from more than 20 countries and regions, receiving over 1,200 entries — a remarkable debut that opened a new chapter for international watercolor art exchange in the post-pandemic era.

A Post-Pandemic Artistic Revival

Since 2020, the global spread of COVID-19 had severely disrupted international exchanges in the world of watercolor art. To revitalize the once-flourishing international watercolor community, the three co-organizing institutions joined forces and officially launched this global watercolor art event on January 20, 2023. The festival aimed to unite watercolor artists, enthusiasts, and art institutions from around the world — celebrating the joy of overcoming the pandemic, embracing a better life, and praying for world peace through the medium of watercolor.

Silvia Nizzetto, Head of Education and Public Affairs at the City Hall of Treviso, expressed that the city government placed great importance on hosting this watercolor festival "right at their doorstep," committing to actively promote global interaction and exchange in watercolor art during the post-pandemic period, and to foster mutual understanding among watercolor artists from different countries and regions.

An Artistic Stage by the Waters

The festival's main venue was set in Treviso, a historic city in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Located just 26 kilometers from Venice, Treviso has been known as the "Gateway to Venice" since it came under the Republic of Venice in 1329. With rivers winding through the city, it has also earned the nickname "Little Venice." The exhibition of award-winning works was held at the Palazzo dei Trecento, a 14th-century landmark building in Treviso and the seat of the city council, whose interior retains remarkable frescoes painted by Venetian artists from the 14th to the 16th centuries — a venue whose historical depth resonated beautifully with the spirit of watercolor art.

An Authoritative Jury and Global Participation

The organizing committee assembled one of the most prestigious jury panels in international watercolor competition history, comprising the presidents of five leading national associations — the American Watercolor Society, the Royal Watercolour Society (UK), the Australian Watercolour Institute, the Spanish Watercolour Association, and the Watercolour Society of Ireland — alongside renowned watercolor artists and curators from China, the United States, and beyond. All entries were evaluated through a two-round anonymous blind-voting process, ensuring the fairness and integrity of the competition.

The competition received over 1,200 entries from more than twenty countries and regions, including China, the United States, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Russia, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Algeria, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The Active Participation of China's Watercolor Community

The festival simultaneously established venues in three countries: Italy (main venue), the United States (Morehead State University Art Gallery, Kentucky), and China (Beijing satellite venue, hosted by Huang Youwei Watercolor Beijing Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.). This marked the first time a major international watercolor festival had set up satellite venues across multiple Chinese cities — a clear testament to the international watercolor community's recognition of China's artistic strength and influence.

Zhao Kangwei, Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee and President of the Shanghai Chinese and Foreign Culture and Art Exchange Association, remarked: "If this event were a bridge of friendship, I hope artists from all nations will continue to walk back and forth across it for years to come." Zhang Hongbin, Curator of the festival and Founder of Sheng Xinyu Art, further noted that the Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival is far more than an art event — it is a platform built through the medium of watercolor painting to foster cross-cultural and cross-regional dialogue among Chinese and international artists, institutions, and collectors.

Award-Winning Works

Following rigorous deliberation by the jury, the following major awards were announced:

Grand Prize — First Prize (USD 5,000)​ Turkish artist Rukiye Garip was awarded the festival's highest honor for her work Reflection (watercolor, 56×38 cm). The painting captivates with its masterful rendering of light and reflection, standing out among over a thousand entries and earning unanimous acclaim from the jury.

Second Prize (USD 1,000 each)​ The two Second Prize works were Through Your Eyes and Man Carrying Painting, both offering profound interpretations of the human figure from distinct cultural perspectives.

Third Prize (USD 800 each)​ The three Third Prize works were El sur existe (56×38 cm, watercolor, 2023) by Argentine artist Jorge Swinnen, Gale (Coup de vent), and Harmony Series 2022.11. Spanning figurative, landscape, and abstract styles, these three works together reflected the rich diversity of artistic expression represented in this edition.

In addition, category awards were presented across five disciplines — Portraiture & Figures, Landscape, Still Life, Exploration (Abstract), and Others — with first, second, and third prizes and excellence awards totaling approximately 80 recipients. All award-winning and shortlisted works were exhibited at the Palazzo dei Trecento from November 7 to 24, 2023, drawing a steady stream of visitors daily and receiving extensive coverage from local and international media.

Achievements and Significance

The successful conclusion of the inaugural Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival marked a powerful revival of international watercolor art in the post-pandemic era. With its high academic standards, authoritative jury, and genuinely global participation, the festival established its standing as a significant event in the international watercolor calendar within just one year — laying a solid foundation for its continued growth in the editions to come. Ji Yinglun, Co-founder of Sheng Xinyu Art and Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee, noted that the festival's defining strength lies in its rigorous academic positioning, most visibly embodied in the caliber of its jury. He expressed confidence that the festival's presence in China would greatly elevate the profile and recognition of Chinese watercolor art on the world stage.