Winner of the “Premio Diana Bracco – Imprenditrici ad arte” [“Diana Bracco Award for Artful Women Entrepreneurs”] at Artissima

Carla Chiarchiaro is the inaugural recipient of the Diana Bracco Award for Artful Women Entrepreneurs, a recognition presented during the Artissima art fair. The award, set up in partnership with the Roberto de Silva and Diana Bracco Foundation of Milan, recognizes emerging female gallerists, Italian or not, who devote themselves to research and the promotion of artistic quality. This year’s winner, Carla Chiarchiaro, manages the ADA gallery in Rome.

The prize was awarded by an exceptional jury made up of Isabella Bortolozzi, the founder of Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi in Berlin; Eva Elisa Fabbris, director of Museo Madre of Naples; and two art collectors: Valeria Napoleone based in London, and Rigo Saitta, based in Geneva.

Carla Chiarchiaro has successfully carved out a distinguished reputation not only as a renowned gallerist but also as a masterful entrepreneur in both human and financial realms. Steering the ADA gallery, she has cultivated a unique space where artists, in addition to displaying their art, work together and pool their experiences, which fosters a culture of camaraderie and collective growth. Carla's adeptness in nurturing talent, drawing in visitors and collectors alike, has elevated the gallery to a vibrant hub of contemporary art.

The Diana Bracco Award – Artful Entrepreneurs is a fitting tribute to her accomplishments and is intended as a fillip for her career and the ADA gallery. The €10,000 prize is sure to be spent judiciously on strengthening existing partnerships and embarking on new ventures. With her exceptional skill in managing both human and financial relationships, Carla is poised to guide the ADA gallery to greater heights, further enriching the art world with her fierce dedication.

The award, established in 2023, acknowledges the ability of selected gallerists to combine commercial success in the art market with a strong commitment to cultural enrichment and support for young artists. The cash prize of €10,000 is intended to encourage the application of a business enterprise model to the world of contemporary art that can stand as an example for future gallery owners in Italy and beyond.

In line with the Bracco Foundation's commitment to promoting women's skills and merit, this award is part of a broader project in collaboration with Il Giornale dell'Arte featuring interviews with “artful” women entrepreneurs that it publishes on its digital channels.
Read the interview with Carla Chiarchiaro.

Photo courtesy: © Perottino-Piva-Peirone / Artissima