Milan, September 13, 2026. The winner of the eleventh edition of the Michele Cea Prize for emerging young Italian and foreign artists, established by theMichele Cea ETS Foundation, is Guido Mitidieri, 36, from Tuscany, creator of the Corten steel sculpture titled "La stessa cosa" (pictured).
This is the jury's motivation: "Guido Mitidieri's work captures aspects that go beyond the simple appearance of the material. The words intertwined in his sculpture accompany the observer on a journey through parallel worlds. For his ability to interpret the world in unconventional terms, he achieved the highest rating of all the works submitted for the prize this year."
1st Place
Guido Mitidieri
Second place went to Georgian visual artist Tengiz Margishvili, 28, for his oil on canvas work “Dystopia the XXI Century”. Third place went to Sara Tonello, 23, from Camposampiero (Padua), for the glass fusion work “Palinsesto”.
2nd Place
Tengiz Margishvili
3rd Place
Sara Tonello
Guido Mitidieri, Tengiz Margishvili and Sara Tonello 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”), Salvatore Morgante (Art Director), Lucia Rosa Pastorestorica dell’arte 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 ancient rhetoric), 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 12 September during the opening evening of the free event With the light in their eyes, taking place in Milan until 20 September at the “Ex Fornace” space, Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 16.
The event, which brings together figurative arts, literature, theater, and photography, is organized by the Michele Cea ETS Foundation, a non-profit organization established in memory of the artist Michele Cea, who passed away prematurely at the age of 27, with the support of Well Seee Mayestus.
The event is sponsored by: Municipality of Milan MUNICIPALITY 6, Metropolitan City of Bari, Brera Art School, De Nittis Pascali Art and Coercive School of Bari, Academy of Fine Arts of Agrigento, GAL, Associazione Pugliesi, Ass. Nutrimente ETS, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo of Milan.
Prizes. First place, artist Guido Mitidieri, was awarded €4,500, a glass sculpture by sculptor Germano Caiano, based on work no. 50, "La scala" by Michele Cea; a solo and/or group exhibition; publication in Arte magazine (Cairo Editore) in the October 2026 issue of 2026; and a mention in the Catalog of Modern Art no. 63 – Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori. Second and third place winners – Tengiz Margishvili and Sara Tonello – received €1,000 and €500, respectively, as well as a mention in the Catalog of Modern Art no. 63 – Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori.
Winners and finalists on display from September 12th to 20th.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" event.
The exhibition can be visited free of charge during the following times:
Daily: 10:00 – 12:30 | 16:00 – 20:00
On days with events: closing at 9:30 pm.
