ISSA Italy: A Sculpture Symposium 29 Years in the Making

The 2026 Friuli Venezia Giulia International Sculpture Symposium, also known as ISSA Italy, was held from 

September 4 to 20. Its closing ceremony took place at the Verniaco Sculpture Park in the province of Udine, 

drawing a large audience and representatives of public institutions.

The ceremony marked 29 years of a journey filled with creativity and a spirit of adventure, sustained by a passion

for art and cultural exchange. Along the way, the symposium has brought together remarkable people from 

around the world. It has been shaped by countless moments of warm exchange and collaboration, as well as 

by the generous, dedicated team members who have become essential to the event.

Over the years, the village of Verniaco and the Il Faro Cultural Association have welcomed 273 sculptors from 

more than 80 countries. The symposium has been—and will continue to be—a platform through which 

participating artists introduce our welcoming community to the world.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped make the artists feel at home. Long after

 the exhibition ends, the works they create will continue to bring lasting beauty to places throughout Friuli.

With these thoughts in mind, we look ahead to next year’s 30th edition of this international art event—

a milestone worth celebrating for an occasion unique to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.

This year’s invited artists and their works were:

Arianna Palmieri (Italy), whose Fetale explores the beauty of organic forms, including their imperfections;

Fabio Chiarello (Italy), creator of Fossil of Light;

Cristilla Paula da Silva (Brazil), whose The Shape of Water invites reflection on the responsible use of water 

and the need to avoid wasting it;

Inna Tkachivska (Ukraine), who presented Caryatid;

Mauro Yojcom (Guatemala), whose The Duality of Food and Spirit symbolizes the dream of peace among

 people and harmony among all living beings;

Gerard Motondi (Kenya), whose symbolic work Echoes of Origins speaks to identity, strength, and vulnerability;

Francesco Cadeddu (Italy), whose Awakening highlights the power of resilience; and Ihor Tkachivskyi (Ukraine),

 who presented Eternal Love.

Contributed by: Maria Grazia Collini, ISSA Italy Committee Member

Editor-in-Chief: Liu Qin

English Editor: Sun Ya'nan

Legal Advisor: Tao Ran'ting