World Bodypainting Festival 2025 – Special Edition
Camouflage Art Turns the Medieval Town of Sterzing into a Living Gallery
For 27 years, the World Bodypainting Festival (WBF) has been the heartbeat of the global bodypainting community. In 2025, the festival entered a new creative era: instead of the traditional single event, the World Awards are now being presented across several international locations.
The first stop of this new journey took place on July 12–13, 2025, in the enchanting medieval town of Sterzing/Vipiteno, Italy. With the support of the local community, the WBF 2025 Special Edition transformed the old town into an open-air gallery, hosting the World Award: Camouflage.
Over two inspiring days, thousands of visitors explored the historic streets, spotting human canvases blending seamlessly into stone walls, towers, and cultural landmarks. What looked like illusion was, in fact, the product of meticulous artistry and hours of work, merging the human body with architectural heritage.
Only 20 selected international artists were invited to compete in this world championship. The competition sites were curated by Sterzing-born artist and globally renowned camouflage master Johannes Stötter, who also served on the jury. He was joined by Bulgarian fine art painter and gallery owner Bella Volen (Vienna) and former World Camouflage Champion Olena Semenets (Kyiv, Ukraine), who brought her unique perspective despite the hardships of war at home.
Among the most remarkable settings were the town’s iconic 46-meter Zwölferturm tower, which challenged artists simply by the climb, and a scene featuring a man in traditional South Tyrolean dress — requiring not only the painted model but also the background figure to remain still for the full three-hour session. Another striking location was the historic town hall, home to a gilded 1597 wooden epitaph, a jewel of sacred South Tyrolean art.
The competition was fierce, with only a few points separating the top contenders. Ultimately, the 2025 Camouflage World Champion title went to Florine Colledara (France), whose breathtaking illusion left the jury astonished. Nicola Loda (Italy) secured second place, while Vanessa La Mouche des Marquises (France) earned third.
Festival founder Alex Barendregt praised both the high artistic level and the impressive turnout:
“This festival is not just about competition. It’s about celebrating harmony between the human body and our cultural landscapes.”
Beyond the contest, visitors enjoyed workshops, live music, and creative jam sessions that encouraged open artistic exchange without the pressure of competition.
As the vibrant artworks faded and the medieval streets returned to their usual rhythm, what remained were unforgettable impressions — captured by photographers and filmmakers, and cherished by the community as moments where art, people, and place became one.
The entire event was organized by WB Production GmbH, who managed every step of the process – from scouting and securing the locations, gaining the support of the municipality, and coordinating marketing campaigns and sponsorships, to overseeing the schedule, stage moderation, and award ceremony. WB Production was also responsible for inviting the artists, curating the jury, and ensuring a smooth and professional execution of the World Award: Camouflage in Sterzing/Vipiteno.
For more details, please visit the official website: www.bodypainting-festival.com
Bookings & Management: www.wb-production.com
