Scultura “Alba” di Valerio Berruti (Piazza Michele Ferrero)

Alba, a monumental sculpture by Alba-born artist Valerio Berruti, rises above the circular fountain in Piazza Michele Ferrero. The bronzed-steel profile of a girl bends toward the water in a work dedicated to childhood and the city's namesake.

Why it matters

Berruti's work, unveiled in 2022, was donated to the community in memory of Michele Ferrero. A bas-relief on the fountain depicts Ferrero as a child. The title refers both to the city and to Alba as a girl's name, connecting local memory with the artist's recurring imagery of childhood.

What to notice

The twelve-and-a-half-metre figure is reduced to a single, enlarged contour, with part of the profile left open to the viewer's imagination. It leans above the water of the fountain, where reflections and changing light alter the work's appearance. The basin and sculpture form a contemporary landmark in the square.

Context and history

The sculpture stands in Piazza Michele Ferrero, formerly Piazza Savona. It was inaugurated on 29 September 2022 and donated by the Ferrero family in memory of Michele Ferrero. The work reflects Berruti's practice of using simplified childlike figures across sculpture and other media.