Alessandra Bitelli

The opening reception will take place on October 29 at 7 p.m. The exhibition runs from October 29 - November 27, 2026

Alessandra Bitelli: A Retrospective (1928-2025)

As the Italian Cultural Centre reaches its 50th year we look back at the people who have made our community a thriving arts hub. One of the people who has impacted the community since its inception is the award-winning artist, Alessandra Bitelli. A watercolour and acrylic painter in her own right, she also contributed her talents to creating the print media of the ICC throughout he 1980's, thereby shaping the overall look and feel of the Italian Cultural Centre.

This exhibition honours Alessandra Bitelli, her talent, and her dedication to her artistic practice. This exhibition, planned with the assistance of her two sons Giovanni and Alessandro, features the creative work of this inspired artist with acrylic and watercolour painting focusing on the natural landscape of this province, her new home after she immigrated to Canada in 1979..

Biography

Born in Torino in 1928, Alessandra Bitelli, was trained as a miniaturist at the Elisa Tosalli Art School of the Miniature. Immigrating to Vancouver, Canada, with her husband late in life in 1979, while her sons were studying at the University of British Columbia, her artistic work focused on the natural world of BC in both acrylic and watercolour paintings of the local landscape.

She was a much-lauded artist in this province winning many local and international art awards, especially through her association with the Canadian Federated Gallery of Arts, on Granville Island.

She was also an artist devoted to her Catholic faith, called a "servant-artist," by her peers in the art community, she received commissions for creating 26 painted glass windows at the Christ the Redeemer Church in West Vancouver. Bitelli was also very involved in the Italian Cultural Centre throughout the 1980's. She contributed her artistic vision to the print media at the ICC, including the cover art of the Annual reports and event posters.

This event begins the 50thanniversary celebrations at the ICC, honouring her contribution to our community.