"La strada di casa" Painting Competition - Carlo Carrà

A village painting in memory of Carlo Carrà

Quargnento, a village in the Province of Alessandria in the heart of the Monferrato region of Piedmont, is the birthplace of Carlo Carrà (1881-1966), one of the absolute protagonists of 20th-century Italian art, a founder of Futurism and later a pioneer of metaphysical painting. This legacy inspires the "La strada di casa" Painting Competition, an event that invites artists each year to engage with the locations and atmosphere of the master's hometown.

How the competition works

The competition is a painting contest held entirely from life on-site, over the course of a single day. In the morning, participants gather in Piazza I Maggio for registration and the stamping of their blank canvases; they then disperse through the streets, squares, and most evocative corners of Quargnento to paint outdoors, each with their own technique and sensibility. In the afternoon, the works are exhibited to the public, and a jury awards the prizes, with an award ceremony closing the day.

A different theme every year

Each edition proposes a theme that guides the artists' creativity, often linked to the figure of Carrà, the Monferrato landscape, or village life. The title "La strada di casa" (The Road Home) evokes the relationship between the artist and the places of their childhood, between memory and the gaze. Over the years, the competition has grown, attracting painters from Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna.

More than a contest: a village celebration

The event is organized by the Municipality of Quargnento in collaboration with local cultural associations and is designed as a community gathering. Seeing the historic center come alive with easels, palettes, and works in progress is a spectacle for residents and visitors alike, who can watch the artists at work throughout the day. The registration fee includes a convivial lunch, a moment that strengthens the spirit of camaraderie among enthusiasts.

In the footsteps of Carrà

Those visiting Quargnento during the competition can also discover the town's deep bond with its most illustrious painter: plaques, trails, and cultural initiatives commemorate Carrà along the village streets. It is an opportunity to combine contemporary art, local tradition, and slow tourism in an authentic corner of the Province of Alessandria.