An exhibition and sale of paintings by artist Anton Calleja, one of Malta’s leading exponents of nude art, and a number of his former students and artist friends is being held in aid of charity.
Titled Life in Colour, the exhibition will feature several works by Calleja and a core group of seasoned artists who had attended his art classes in Baħrija between the years 1999 and 2008.
These were later to continue with their regular weekly sessions in life figure drawing and portrait painting at Patrick Dalli’s studio in Marsascala, and subsequently at Anna Galea’s, where they currently meet.
Besides several works by Calleja, the show will feature three works each by the other 20 participants, including Vince Amos, Marisa Attard, Marika Borg, Randolph Camilleri, Myriam Darmanin, Anna Galea, Robert Galea, Marlene Gouder, Carol Jaccarini, Lawrence Pavia, Ray Micallef, Ethelbert Perini , Therese Storace, Angela Theuma, Astrid Zammit, Marthese Vella, Mona Vella, Maris Zammit, Henry Alamango and Kenneth Zammit Tabona.
The exhibition will cover a variety of themes, including nudes, portraits, landscapes, interiors and abstracts executed in a wide range of media. The artists will be donating part of the proceeds from the sale of their works to charity.
On this occasion, to celebrate their longstanding friendship and their Wednesday art sessions that have now been going on for over a decade, the artists will also be launching a 102-page hardback publication in full colour titled Of Flesh and Spirit: The Wednesday Group of Artists. Lavishly illustrated, it gives a brief biographical note about each participating artist.
The publication also includes visuals of some of the works of all participating artists, besides a brief essay by participating artist Robert Galea, titled The Nude in Twentieth Century Art. A limited number of copies of this publication will be available on the opening night.
Life in Colour runs at Ten Green Bottles, Mdina Road, Żebbuġ between Friday and April 27. Viewing times are from Monday to Friday from 10am to 7.30pm and Saturday from 10am to 1.30pm.