The Colors of Galliate – Open-Air Painting Competition

A day of live art in Galliate

The Colors of Galliate is the open-air painting competition that brings the historic center of Galliate, in the province of Novara, to life every year in the heart of Piedmont. For one day, Piazza Vittorio Veneto – dominated by the majestic Sforza Castle and the parish bell tower – turns into a large open-air studio, where dozens of artists paint live in front of passersby.

The initiative was born from the passion of the I Pennelloni group, a collective of local painting enthusiasts who organize the event in collaboration with the Pro Loco of Galliate and with the patronage of the Municipality. The competition is open to everyone: participants register, have their blank canvases stamped, and create a work throughout the day, drawing inspiration from the corners, views, and atmosphere of Galliate and its surrounding area.

What makes the competition special

Unlike a traditional exhibition, here the visitor does not admire finished works but witnesses their creation: colors taking shape under brushstrokes, artists focused at their easels, and the direct exchange between painters and the public. It is an opportunity to experience art as an act and as an encounter, in an urban setting of great charm like the one surrounding the Castle of Galliate.

• Live en plein air painting in Piazza Vittorio Veneto
• Competition open to professional and amateur painters
• Theme linked to Galliate, its corners, and its territory
• Exhibition of the completed works and final awards ceremony

A village festival between art and community

The Colors of Galliate is much more than a painting contest: it is a festive moment that involves the entire Galliate community. Families, curious onlookers, and enthusiasts stroll among the easels, while the Pro Loco welcomes participants with a convivial gathering. The event is part of the Municipality's spring calendar and contributes to enhancing the artistic and landscape heritage of this corner of the West Ticino, in the province of Novara.