29 September – 3 October
Lingotto Fiere

Director: Roberto Casiraghi
Visitors: 15,000
Galleries: 123 from 7 countries

The first edition of ARTissima, founded by Roberto Casiraghi and Paola Rampini, opened on 29 September 1994, with the official opening to the public on 30 September, for four days, until 3 October, at Pavilion 3 of Lingotto Fiere di Torino. The founding members who joined forces for the creation of the first Italian fair on modern and contemporary art open to foreign galleries included the gallerists Claudia Gian Ferrari (Milano), Massimo Minini (Brescia), Tucci Russo (Torino), Giulio Tega (Milano) and Netta Vespignani (Roma).

Among the exhibitors, there were interesting international galleries such as Gian Enzo Sperone (New York), Anthony Reynolds (London), Triebold (Basel) and De La Cathedrale (Monte Carlo). Among the artists, the young Cattelan M. was presented by the gallery Raucci/Santamaria.

It is interesting to notice ARTissima’s focus, from the outset, on young and emerging talents: the special “Vernice Fresca” section (repeated until 1999) presented works by artists under 35 years of age, at prices of no more than 6 million lire.