first imagined in November 2005 by Amalia Pizzardi, who decided to broaden the horizons of her contemporary art gallery through the institution of an international photography competition. Founded more than ten years ago in Mexico City, channeled through Milan and most recently Richmond, Virginia, The Gallery Art & Design, closely tied to the conceptual movement, operates as a gathering point for young talented American and international artists.

Structured and planned during 2006, COLORS OF LIFE attracted the participation of skilled artists from around the world, celebrating its culmination with the concluding gala evening on February 21, 2007 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Combining stunning visual art with the active participation of the photographers, renowned musicians and highly respected advocates of the international scientific and medical communities, proceeds from the evening went to support the Transitional Care Unit at Richmond Children’s Hospital.

The evolution and expansion of COLORS OF LIFE commenced one morning in February 2007 to welcome and engage challenging new trains of thought, transforming itself to assume the shape of a wider-ranging philanthropic project. COLORS OF LIFE is aimed at creating through its website a community that is not only virtual, but also tangible, composed of people united from their many differing backgrounds through the common passion to promote, without any profitable interest, art and philanthropy to improve and inspire.

These innovative ideas and plans would be too confined if relegated only to the activities of The Gallery Art & Design, which continues to exist as an independent entity but leads a parallel path in supporting these ideas of arts and philanthropy as the vehicles inspiring this ambitious plan.