The 2023 World Bodypainting Festival saw notable changes, moving to the Messearena Klagenfurt in September, marking a shift towards a heightened artistic focus. Despite the venue and date change, the World Championship for Bodypainting and Makeup Artists remained a central attraction, drawing hundreds of teams worldwide to Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria. The event's emphasis on artistry also attracted numerous photographers eager to capture the ephemeral beauty of the artworks.

Traditionally, one of the last awards to be given are those of the WBF Photo Award 2023.

It's always a daunting task to assess the participants' efforts, as they've dedicated countless hours to perfecting their photo work. It is an enormous responsibility to select the best shot - one that includes model pose, perfect lighting, and retouching. Every detail is important, as the images that were placed in the TOP rate get a chance to be presented on mayor communication materials for the upcoming World Bodypainting Festival 2024.

Thanks to all the photographers who come to the festival and participate in the photo competition - you record the historical moments for many people! Bodypainting and make-up are immersive arts that need your perfect capture to exist!

All entries can be found on our Photo Gallery Server. All Photo Galleries

Best Bodypainting Photo 2023

1 Place Ellie Hope (UK)
2 Place Michael Lessard (Canada)
3 Place Bettina Koch (Germany)

Artist: Leonardo Giacomo Borgese (IT) - World Award Brush & Sponge

Complete results of the category "Bodypainting" 2023 as PDFComplete results of the category "Bodypainting" 2023 as PDF

Best Fashion / Portrait Photo 2023

1st Place Michael Lessard (Canada)
2nd Place Claudia Friedrich (Germany)
3rd Place Peter Weiser (Germany)

Artist: Nadja Hluchovsky (AT) - World Award Creative Make-up

Complete results of the category "Best Fashion / Portrait Photo" 2023 as PDFComplete results of the category "Best Fashion / Portrait Photo" 2023 as PDF

The Jury 2023

Kurt Batschinski - Board of Presidents of the FIAP World Photographic Association
Daniel Janesch - Pro Photographer & the WBF Photo Crew
Irina Skripnik - Award-winning photographer & digital artist
Davide DaDamos - Multiple award winner at the WBF
Leon Sokoletski - Fashion Photographer & Worldwide Instructor
Alex Barendregt, WBF Director for the organization (no judge)

Each photo was rated with 1 to 10 points; all photos in the top 15 were discussed and ranked.

We congratulate all the winners and are looking forward to a festive awarding at the World Bodypainting Festival 2024.

We are delighted to share the extraordinary success of the "WBF – Generation Next" festival, a vibrant celebration of artistic innovation and creativity in the world of bodypainting. This year, we marked the 26th edition of the festival, and it was held in an indoor venue, bringing immense joy to all participants, including photographers, models, and artists. The indoor setting provided a reliable and controlled environment, ensuring that everyone could fully immerse themselves in the competition, photo sessions, and stage presentations, free from the uncertainties of weather and lighting conditions.

The "WBF – Generation Next" took place in Klagenfurt, South Austria, uniting the global bodypainting community to showcase their unique art and compete for the prestigious World Award trophy. It was an honour to welcome talented artists from 42 countries.

This year, the festival also transcended geographical boundaries, as we expanded our reach through live streaming. This allowed a global audience to experience the captivating magic of bodypainting from anywhere in the world.

The WBF Online Awards recognized the remarkable work of participants who joined the competition from their homes and studios around the world, underlining the truly international spirit of the event.

Without further ado, we proudly present the top three winners in the WBF Online Awards:

Online Award: Brush/Sponge Category (Presented by Senjo Color):

1st Place: Serena Dalla Torre (Italy)

2nd Place: Ana Maria Castelan (Mexico)

3rd Place: Luis Diego Mendez (Costa Rica)

WBF Online Award: Open Category (Presented by WB Production):

1st Place: Efi Tsimpi (Greece)

2nd Place: Irene Sanchez Galdon

3rd Place: Edith Villanueva Diaz (Mexico)

AND HERE WE GO WITH THE NEW WORLD CHAMPIONS

World Award: Brush/Sponge

Federica Rigozzo / Italy
Lucia Postacchini / Italy
 Jose Alfaro / Mexico

World Award: Open Category

Yuri Falzetti / Italy
 Jinra Kim / Korea
 Katrin Rausch / Germany

World Award: Team Show

Emilia & Gilberta Bianchin / Italy
Silke Kirchhoff & Moona Jin Weaner / Germany, South Korea
  Veronica Bottigliero & Iris Pfeiffer / Italy, Austria

World Award: UV Effects

 Marian Folga Wiktoria Wedzicha / Poland
Claudia Kraemer & Enrico Lein / Germany
  Adrian Castro Gomez & Alexis Arenas / Mexico

World Award: Camouflage Bodypainting

Johannes Stoetter / Italy
Elena Tagliapietra / Italy
 Bettina Strodl / Austria

World Award: Facepainting

 Adrian Castro Gomez / Mexico
Nadja Hluchovsky / Austria
Alexis Arenas / Mexico

World Award: Special Effects Make up

Olena Semets / Ukraine
Jenny Corro / Italy
Houyam Hajlaoui / Belgium
 

World Award: Creative Make-up

 Jasmiina Walters / Finland
Virag Ritli / Hungary
Nadja Hluchovsky / Austria

Special Award: Make-up Battle 

 Jasmiina Walters / Finland

The festival also shone a spotlight on artistic development and education through the WB Academy program. Participants had the opportunity to learn from top instructors in various categories, including makeup, camouflage, realistic skulls, and bodypainting for both advanced artists in classical techniques and beginners using airbrush tools.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed sponsors for their unwavering support: Kryolan Professional, XJC Galaxy, Carnaval Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Skindex, and Senjo Color. We also want to acknowledge the contributions of Tourism Klagenfurt, STW, and the cultural department of the city of Klagenfurt, whose continued support played a pivotal role in making this festival a resounding success.

The crowning moment of the event was the announcement of the WBF Champions for 2023, representing Italy, Mexico, Finland, Ukraine, and Poland. Their exceptional artistry and dedication truly set them apart.

You can find detailed results for all 11 categories on the official WBF website: WBF Official Website.

To relive the magic and be captivated by the stunning creations, we invite you to explore our WBF Gallery, where photos from all festival days are available: WBF Gallery

Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey, and we look forward to continued support and inspiration in the world of bodypainting.