September 15th, 2021
One of our favourite annual spectaculars, the world Body Painting Festival was once again hit by COVID restrictions for its 2021 event. However, showing once more that a global pandemic wouldn’t derail plans, the innovative team behind the Festival brought it back online from July 18th – 24th 2021 – crowning new World Champions from Italy, Brazil, Sweden and, for the first time, Malaysia.

Image: Daniel Janesch
With eight categories, four of which were online, there were plenty of entries from around the world. Artists from 48 nationalities in 17 time zones around the world participated with painting allowed for 8, 5 or 3 hours depending on the category. The images were uploaded before midnight and jury voting took place the following day.

Image: Sarah Egger
The juries consisted of some of the biggest names in the industry:
Online
Andrea Benocci (Italy), Anabel Vargas (USA), Bella Volen (Bulgaria), Birgit Mörtl (Austria), Einat Dan (Israel), Ernst Wieser (Austria), Flavio Bosco (Italy), John Vargas (USA), Matilda Inozemzeva (Ukraine), Mike Shane (Luxembourg), Mila Kilmenko (Russia), Mirjana Kika Molosevic (Serbia).
Live
Johannes Stötter (Italy), Bella Volen (Bulgaria), Elena Tagliapietra (Italy) and Filippo Ioco (USA-Italy).

Image: Daniel Janesch
Highlights included the premier of a totally new World Award in Camouflage Bodypainting live from its original home in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee in Austria and the first Malaysian Bodypainting World Champion, Guan Jin Low, who also took third place in the Special Award Creative Make-up.
Everything was streamed by the team along with art installations and exhibitions. You can watch here –
We’re very proud to highlight two of Warpaint’s team: – Catriona Finlayson placed 14 in the World Brush and Sponge, and Angela Young who was 8th in SFX Makeup category. In addition to the world championships, winners were awarded in Special & Amateur Awards. All results and galleries are online: www.bodypainting-festival.com

Cat Finlayson

Angela Youngs
We hope the event will be back in person again next year and we can’t wait to head to Austria in July 2022..
WORLD CHAMPION 2021
After placing 5th in 2020, Guan Jin Low returned to the competition this year, taking first place in the World Facepainting Award and third place in the Special Award Creative Make-up.
World Award Brush & Sponge presented by Kryolan
Winner – Francesca Cavicchio (Italy)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Francesca Cavicchio
2nd place – Lucia Postacchini (Italy)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Lucia Postacchini
3rd place – Marian Folga (Poland)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Marian Folga
World Award Airbrush presented by Kryolan
Winner – Alex Hansen (Brazil)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Alex Hansen
2nd place – Guisy Campolungo (Italy)

Image: Daniel Janech Artist: Guisy Campolungo
3rd place – Lucia Postacchini (Italy)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Lucia Postacchini
World Award Special Effects Bodypainting presented by Kryolan
Winner – Weaner Moona Jin (Korea)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Weaner Moona Jin
2nd place- Alejandra Huert Gayol (Mexico)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Alejandra Huert Gayol
3rd place – Noè Duran (Mexico)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Noè Duran
World Award Facepainting presented by Superstar
Winner – Jin Guan Low (Malaysia)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Jin Guan Low
2nd place – Yu-Pin Kao (Taiwan)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Yu-Pin Kao
3rd place – Maria Ana Castelan (Mexico)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Maria Ana Castelan
Debut World Award Camouflage Bodypainting presented by Base Formula
Winner – Vilija Vitkute (Sweden)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Vilija Vitkute
2nd place – Gesine Marwedel (Germany)

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Gesine Marwedel
3rd place – Christiane Rempel (Germany

Image: Daniel Janesch Artist: Christiane Rempel