The eleventh edition of Selvatica – Art and Nature in Festival, a biennial event held in Piazzo, Biella’s historic district, has commenced and will run until July 19, 2026. The festival aims to foster a dialogue between artistic languages, scientific research, and educational practices to create a layered narrative about the transformations of the contemporary landscape. The event features a comprehensive schedule of activities focused on the relationship between contemporary creativity and the environment.
At the heart of the festival, conceived by Palazzo Gromo Losa and E20Progetti in collaboration with the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Biella, are the spaces of the Biella Piazzo Cultural Hub, particularly Palazzo Gromo Losa and Palazzo Ferrero. These venues host a program of exhibitions, installations, meetings, and educational activities designed to blend aesthetic dimension with informative function, contributing to environmental protection awareness through cultural means.
Among the featured events is “Audubon. The Great Tale of Nature,” the first exhibition in Italy dedicated to John James Audubon, a pivotal figure in the history of naturalistic illustration. On display are 40 works from the renowned “The Birds of America,” showcasing the scientific precision and imaginative power with which the artist depicted the avifauna of the American continent. Complementing this collection are sculptures by Alice Zanin, created specifically for the festival.
Photography plays a central role, as is customary, with the exhibition “Poetry for Nature” by photographer Zheng Xiaolin. Through black and white images, Xiaolin constructs a lyrical narrative of landscapes and the animal world. This is accompanied by a selection of shots from the international Glanzlichter competition, as well as contributions from Fotoclub Biella.
The festival’s opening was marked by the award ceremony for the fifth edition of the “Be Natural Be Wild” competition, promoted by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Biella. The first prize was awarded to artist Maura Banfo for her work “Nest,” an aluminum sculpture that reinterprets the theme of dwelling from the elementary form of the nest, considered a natural model of adaptation and transformation. This artwork will join the Foundation’s collection, and the artist will be featured in a solo exhibition at the next edition of the festival. Alongside the winner, 27 finalists were selected, whose works are exhibited at the Foundation’s Spazio Cultura until June 7. Several collateral awards were also presented by partner galleries, underscoring the competition’s role as an observatory for emerging artistic languages.
In addition to exhibitions, Selvatica presents a series of projects that weave together contemporary art, scientific research, and social reflection. Among these is the installation “The Sociable Waver. A matter that questions” by Michela Cavagna, created with sound artist Emiliano Battistini. This work addresses the theme of cohabitation and shared spaces in contemporary cities. On the scientific front, the exhibition “Aliens – The Conquest of Italy by Plants and Animals Introduced by Humans” investigates the dynamics of invasive species and ecosystem transformations.
The program will continue in the coming weeks with meetings and in-depth discussions open to the public. These include a focus on the golden jackal, a new presence in Italian fauna, on May 14, and on May 21, the theatrical monologue “Ecce lupo” will stage the conflict between humans and animals, directly involving the audience. Further events dedicated to nature photography and public outreach will follow, reinforcing the festival’s interdisciplinary vocation.
