Alfred Chircop, one of Malta's foremost abstract artists, passed away last night.
Mr Chircop was a major protagonist in the development of modern art in Malta. He was a teacher to many, and was also for numerous years a Lecturer in Design in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (now Faculty of the Built Environment) at the University of Malta.
His art was manifested in a variety of media - drawings, paintings, watercolours, etchings, aquatints, linocuts and monoprints.
Alfred Chircop studied at the Malta School of Art, the Accademia Pietro Vannucci in Perugia, Bath Academy of Art at Corsham UK and Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome.
The funeral will be held tomorrow at 3pm at the Santa Maria Parish Church in Attard.
Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said Alfred Chircop's death was a great loss for the Maltese cultural sector. His pioneering contribution to visual arts was of international calibre.
The PN also expressed its condolences.
It said Mr Chircop will be remembered for his works in Malta and abroad. His abstract works in particular had done Malta proud.