The Phoenicia Malta and curator Prof. Charlene Vella are proud to present a special preview exhibition of works by Lorenzo Agius, the preeminent portrait photographer of our time. This exclusive selection, on view throughout June, offers an intimate look at seventeen of Agius's most compelling celebrity portraits, a powerful prelude to the major retrospective to follow from mid-September at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta.
This preview showcases iconic images of globally renowned actors and musicians, drawn from Agius's vast and acclaimed body of work, which spans the mid-1990s. With a singular eye for emotion and atmosphere, Lorenzo captures not merely likeness but presence, distilling the intangible magnetism of his subjects into timeless visual statements. Each portrait is a moment suspended, rich with narrative, vulnerability, and charisma.
Lorenzo Agius, British-born with Maltese heritage, rose to international acclaim in the mid-1990s with his cinematic portraiture, including the now-legendary promotional images for Trainspotting. Since then, his lens has framed the faces of generations - from Hollywood royalty to music legends - in ways that continue to shape contemporary visual culture. Vanity Fair covers, film campaigns, and private commissions alike speak to his enduring influence and unrivalled ability to reveal the humanity behind fame.
This preview at The Phoenicia Malta not only showcases Agius's technical mastery but invites visitors to engage with the emotional intelligence behind the camera. His portraits are marked by a delicate balance of structure and spontaneity, choreographed yet alive with unexpected moments. This is portraiture elevated to art: cinematic, painterly, and deeply personal.
For Lorenzo, whose fine art background informs every frame, returning to Malta carries emotional resonance. The exhibition stands as a tribute to his roots and a celebration of creative possibility: an inspiration for future generations of Maltese artists.
Lorenzo has chosen Malta as the venue for his first comprehensive retrospective, a gesture of gratitude to his homeland. By offering an immersive overview of his career in the place of his roots, he hopes to ignite inspiration among emerging Maltese artists. His own path was far from simple: decades of self-belief, relentless work, and resilience shaped his success. He wants young creators to know that their dreams are attainable if they commit to the craft with the same persistence he tirelessly sustained. He already presented his work in a public lecture at the University of Malta in March 2024 and participated in a culture day in a local independent primary school in April 2025, and he will be presenting his larger exhibition to school children and more in the coming scholastic year.
The preview exhibition will run until 30 June, 2025, in the Palm Court Lounge at The Phoenicia, Malta.
Who is Lorenzo Agius?
Born to Maltese parents and growing up in London, Lorenzo started his career by producing the memorable and iconic images of Ewan McGregor and the cast of Danny Boyle's groundbreaking film Trainspotting, to then celebrate the UK's Cool Britannia with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit laying on a Union Jack bedspread for the cover of Vanity Fair.
With his highly considered approach to photography, Lorenzo consistently produces a diverse, humorous, and highly refined range of work. He has become known as one of the preeminent portrait photographers of his generation and continues to work with numerous commercial, film, and editorial clients around the world.
His portraiture has encompassed many highly regarded talents, including:
Tom Cruise, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, Beyonce, Helena Bonham Carter, Robert Downey Jnr, Jack Nicholson, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Madonna, Rachel Weisz, Samuel L Jackson, Jared Leto, Kate Winslet, Muhammad Ali, Margot Robbie, Helen Mirren,
Sharon Stone, Michael Fassbender, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, HRH Queen
Rania of Jordan, HRH King Charles, Oprah Winfrey, Jude Law, Eddie Redmayne, Jamie Foxx, Christian Bale, Vivian Westwood, Paul Smith, Valentino, Donatella Versace, Azzedine Alaia, and many more.
Lorenzo has seven of his celebrated images in The National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection, London, UK. This year, Lorenzo is collaborating on a series of some of his most iconic images, in an art project with celebrated Spanish artist Doming Zapata.
He has held ten solo exhibitions in the past. This exhibition at The Phoenicia Malta is a preview to Lorenzo's first solo and retrospective exhibition in Malta, which will be held from mid-September at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta.