What is Maltese art? Is it art produced within the geographic perimeter of the islands or does it have to do with what is produced by Maltese nationals, by adoption or descent, anywhere?

An interesting case study in response to this intriguing research question is Joe Busuttil whose show Joe Busuttil… 50 years on is currently on show at the Loggia, National Museum of Fine Arts.

Mr Busuttil (b.1936) is an Anglo-Maltese citizen with Maltese origins. He started his art training in 1961 at the City and Guilds Art School encouraged by the British artist Carel Weight (1908-1997).

Later he also studied painting, sculpture and print-making under Henry Wilkinson (1921-2011). Mr Busuttil is specialised in printmaking at Croydon College under Dennis Masi (b.1942).

His works have been frequently shown at the Royal Academy summer exhibition between 1971 and 1989 and other exhibitions in Germany, France, America, Australia and Jersey. His works, however, have never been shown in Malta and neither have they been featured in publications focusing on artists having Maltese connection. Mr Busuttil’s engravings are varied but most of the ones currently on show feature London streetscapes.