Milan, September 14, 2025.The winner of the tenth edition of the Michele Cea Prize for young emerging Italian and foreign artists, established by the Michele Cea ETS Foundation and organized as part of the “Poliedro dell'Arte” project, created with the contribution of the Fondazione di Comunità Milano, was Alida Testa, 19, from Milan, author of the sculpture entitled “Estasi”. This is the jury's motivation: “Alida Testa's sculpture takes shape from clay shaped with the care of someone who knows and loves the material. Observing it, one almost seems to perceive the heartbeat of the subject represented, a pulsating heart that expresses the pinnacle of emotion”.
Second place Isabel Passarella, also from Milan, for her work “The Breath of Rebirth. Third place went to Simone Mazzoleni, 29, from Bergamo, for the sculpture “Plural Sighs.
The jury. Alida Testa, Isabel Passarella and Simone Mazzoleni were selected among the Italian and foreign artists who submitted works of painting, graphics, sculpture, photography and video art to the jury chaired by Lina Bavaro (Vice President of the Michele Cea ETS Foundation and professor of literature) and by the members of the Scientific-Artistic Board of the Foundation: Giuseppe Bellantonio (freelance journalist and art expert), Michele Franco (artistic director, presenter and actor, Turin head of the Association "L'Officina culturale di Chivasso"), Nuccio Mula (journalist and critic, former professor of Phenomenology of Contemporary Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts "Michelangelo" in Agrigento), Lucia Rosa Pastore art historian works at the Pinacoteca Metropolitana "Corrado Giaquinto" in Bari, Massimiliano Porro (professor of History of Art at the Academy of Fine Arts "Aldo Galli" - IED in Como), Cristiano Rocchio (professor of philosophy and scholar of rhetoric) ancient), Enzo Varricchio (publicist journalist, cassation lawyer, expert in copyright and cultural heritage), Gaetano Centrone(professor of History of Art, Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin), Gianluca Veneziani (journalist).
The three winners were awarded on Saturday 13 September during the opening evening of the free event Con la luce negli occhi, on stage in Milan until 21 September at the “Ex Fornace” space, Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 16. The event, where figurative arts, literature, theatre and photography meet, is organised by the Michele Cea ETS Foundation, a non-profit organisation established in memory of the artist Michele Cea, who passed away prematurely at the age of 27, with the support of Anteprima design, Well See and Mayestus. The event is sponsored by: the Municipality of Milan – Municipio 6 and Municipio 1, the Metropolitan City of Bari, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Divani & Divani by Natuzzi, the Brera Art School, the Academy of Fine Arts of Agrigento, the Regional Association of Puglia, the Casa delle Artiste, GAL Nuovo Fiori d'Ulivo, and the Municipalities of Bitonto, Binetto, Giovinazzo, Grumo Appula, Modugno, Palo del Colle, and Terlizzi.
Prizes. First place, artist Alida Testa, was awarded €4,000, a glass sculpture by sculptor Germano Caiano, based on work no. 50, titled La Scala , by Michele Cea; a solo and/or group exhibition; publication in the October 2025 issue of Arte magazine (Cairo Editore), and a mention in the 2026 Modern Art Catalogue (CAM 62 – Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori). Second and third place—Isabel Passarella and Simone Mazzoleni—were awarded €1,000 and €500, respectively, as well as a mention in the 2026 Modern Art Catalogue (CAM 62 – Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori).
Winners and finalists on display from September 14th to 21st. All 12 finalist works, including the three contest winners, will remain on display at the “Ex Fornace” space, Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 16, Milan, for the entire duration of the With Light in Their Eyes.
The exhibition is open to the public free of charge during the following hours: Daily 10:00-12:30 and 16:00-19:30.
On days when events are scheduled, the exhibition closes at 23:00.
