Is-City - Late Paintings is an extraordinary exhibition of some 30 artworks created by none other than Charles ‘City’ Gatt who passed away a year ago. Charles was very popular as a jazz drummer and was the brains behind the setting up of The Malta Jazz Festival in 1990.

Charles Gatt had two artistic lives which he nurtured in parallel: art and music. He was a man of culture and passion.

It was, in fact, Charles’ wish to put up an exhibition of his works in aid of RIDT, the University of Malta’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust. Unfortunately, his passing away a year ago meant that the project was destined to be put aside and ignored.

Thankfully a number of persons decided to take on where Charles had left because Charles had expressed his enthusiasm for the project with those close to him.

The project brings together Charles’ daughters (Carla and Ariana), renowned artist and the curator Austin Camilleri, the small RIDT team, the support of Noċemuskata, especially Sarah Lee Zammit and Anthony Galea, as well as the talent and assistance of Joe Smith, Charles Balzan and Jason Masini.

This is not a posthumous event but the continuation of a project which Charles himself was very keen on doing. In fact, there are a good number of works which have never been exhibited before, along with a number of pieces from private collections.

Some of the proceeds from the sale of the paintings will go to create a legacy in honour of the much loved artist through the Award in Jazz and Improvisation at the University Of Malta.

On Thursday 23 February at 7.30pm, some of Malta’ leading jazz musicians will be gathering at the exhibition for a jamming session in honour of Charles ‘City’ Gatt.

The exhibition is at 134, Old Bakery Street, Valletta. It opened on the 16th of February and will go on till Sunday 26th February 2023. It is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm.