Firmament – Ryan Falzon
Artist Ryan Falzon explores the visual and conceptual language of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, and Medieval esoteric illustrations in his solo exhibition Firmament at Spazju Kreattiv. Traditionally described as the ‘dome’ that separates the earthly from the divine, Firmament exposes the human desire to transcend the physical and move beyond materiality, which the artist depicts through a new personal visual language marked by pictorial abstraction and a creative use of space, painting, and text. 14th May-28th June.
Just Like a Prayer – Liliana Fleri Soler
Multi-disciplinary artist Liliana Fleri Soler presents Just Like a Prayer at Studio 87’s second exhibition space at 38 Triq Lvant, Valletta – a display that brings together three larger-than-life sculptures, each embodying a distinct, everyday action. At its core, her work explores the quiet search for peace within the mundane and how through repetition, daily actions can transform into spaces of meditation. The opening night will feature a live collaboration with Liliana Portelli, Sarah Vella, and Sandra Mifsud of Theatre Anon, alongside Banjo Rancho on percussion. 8th-22nd May.
Stories Revisited – Johanna Barthet
Johanna Barthet’s upcoming solo exhibition at Teatru Salesjan in Sliema is a visual trip down memory lane, brought to life through her bold brushstrokes and distinctive style that captures the spectrum of emotions demonstrated by her characters. Titled Stories Revisited, this exhibition – a sequel to her debut exhibition in 2019, Stories Untold – is a collection of paintings based on her own childhood memories, filled with nostalgia and tongue-in-cheek humour drawn from the human experience. 15th May-15th June.
Art Will Wake the Dead – James Micallef Grimaud
As part of Spazju Kreattiv’s 25th anniversary celebrations, artist James Micallef Grimaud created a mural that explores the power of art as both mirror and protest. Elements include a sleeping statue draped in the flag of the European Union, suggesting a Europe that is dormant or evasive in the face of global issues, and bullet-scarred teddy bears that mourn the loss of childhood innocence in times of war. The work, which will be added to the cultural centre’s permanent collection, invites viewers to observe, imagine, question, and reimagine. Until 10th May.
What Happens in Between – Hui Sun
In this solo exhibition by Hui Sun, curated by Melanie Erixon, each work brings together two images that do not naturally belong. Rather than forming a continuous narrative, these paired scenes on display at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq in Mqabba are suspended in a state of quiet tension. The viewer is invited to navigate the distance between them, trace possible connections, or accept their dissonance. In this sense, the paintings function less as narratives and more as propositions: open-ended structures in which multiple readings can coexist. Until 17th May.
Pawlu Grech: A Cosmos of Art
Pawlu Grech: A Cosmos of Art on display at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta pays homage to the legacy of one of Malta’s most prolific multidisciplinary artists, whose artistic life led him to work with top orchestras in London and to exhibit his paintings in Malta, Paris, and the UK. Visitors can experience Pawlu Grech’s (1938-2021) visualisations of nature’s microorganisms and his sonic inventiveness, which appear as artefacts of his own cosmic world guided by imagination and spirituality. Until 23rd May.
Main image: Painting by Johanna Barthet
