Last month, Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS) formally opened its third exhibition since its grand opening in October 2024, with the group show The Space We Inhabit featuring the work of Maltese artists of excellence Caesar Attard, Vince Briffa, Joyce Camilleri, Austin Camilleri, Anton Grech, and Pierre Portelli.

The exhibition includes paintings, sculpture, video and sound-based work and takes place across all three main exhibition floors of the museum, with each artist responding to the theme of space - both real and imagined - and by extension, place.

Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Owen Bonnici paid tribute to MICAS's efforts at using its international networks to bring artistic clout to the island, citing as an example the works on display of Conrad Shawcross, Cristina Iglesias and Michele Oka Doner, as well as the opening exhibition by Joana Vasconcelos, but also the forthcoming Milton Avery retrospective.

"These are clear signs of the seriousness of this institution, and that the MICAS board and its international and creative committees are building important relations with the international world of art." Bonnici also described artists Caesar Attard, Joyce Camilleri, Anton Grech, Pierre Portelli, Vince Briffa, and Austin Camilleri - practitioners whose lives were committed to the pursuit of their art - as "connoisseurs of imagination, whose introspection helps viewers contemplate their existence and indeed, the space we inhabit, both physically as well as intellectually."

MICAS executive chairperson Phyllis Muscat said the excellence and distinctiveness of the artists' work for The Space We Inhabit was more than a celebration of Maltese art. "MICAS was created to serve as an international platform for Maltese art... the old distinctions between the 'local' and 'foreign' do no justice to artists whose intellectual confidence is at par with any of their peers."

The Space We Inhabit marks a significant milestone for Maltese contemporary art, whose evolution towards modernism saw Maltese artists frequently trained in European centres, engaging with global themes while maintaining connections to the island's unique cultural heritage. For many, as for the artists featured in this group exhibition, this has led to recognition and opportunities well beyond Malta.

Artistic Director Edith Devaney said the exhibition was an essential element for MICAS's ambitious programme to present first-class exhibitions on a global platform, shining a light on the very best art from across the world while referencing Maltese culture and wider cultural interests.

"This exhibition underpins our commitment to celebrating excellence within national practice," Devaney said. "My experience has been that whether well-known or not, all good artists share one thing in common... 'their own point of view'... This has certainly been the case with Caesar Attard, Vince Briffa, Austin Camilleri, Joyce Camilleri, Anton Grech and Pierre Portelli.

"On display is a rigorous focus of thought twinned with a remarkable quality of the painting, execution of sculpture, originality of ideas with the six original 'points of view' coming together to contribute to the examination of the theme while also presenting works of great ambition and beauty."

MICAS Opening Hours and Entry Information:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday - Thursday: 10am - 6pm

Friday - Saturday: 10am - 8 pm

Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Please visit www.micas.art for more information and follow @micasmalta on Instagram.

Caesar Attard
Born in 1946 in Żejtun, Malta, Attard is a pioneering Maltese artist known for his experimental and participatory art. He studied at the Malta School of Art and was active in influential art groups like Spectrum '67 and Vision '74. His work spans drawing, painting, installation, and multimedia, often exploring memory, identity, and uncertainty. Attard has exhibited widely in Malta and abroad, including retrospectives and installations at venues like St James Cavalier and Valletta Contemporary.

Joyce Camilleri
Born in Toronto in 1980, Camilleri is a Malta-based artist whose practice centers on drawing and printmaking. She holds an M.Ed. in Artist Teaching from the University of West Scotland and a diploma in Fine Art Printmaking from the Malta School of Art. Her work blends figurative and abstract elements, exploring poetic space and subconscious narratives. Camilleri has exhibited across Europe and participated in international residencies, with works held in collections like MUŻA and the NI Institute in Bitola.

Anton Grech
Born in 1965, Grech studied in Malta, Florence, and Düsseldorf, and has taught at the Malta School of Art and the University of Malta, where he heads the Department of Visual Arts. His work spans sculpture, drawing, and painting, often engaging with abstraction and public space. Grech has exhibited internationally, including in China, Belgium, and Portugal, and curated shows for emerging Maltese artists. He's also a founding member of the groups stART and WARTI.

Pierre Portelli
Born in 1961, Portelli is a contemporary Maltese artist whose work challenges passive viewing through interactive installations and conceptual pieces. His art has been shown in Malta, Italy, Germany, and Iceland, and he's known for projects that explore social change and layered meaning. Portelli's installations often invite viewers to engage physically and intellectually, dissolving boundaries between artist and audience.

Vince Briffa
Born in 1958, Briffa is a multimedia artist and academic whose work investigates dualities and blurred boundaries between disciplines. He holds a PhD in Fine Arts and has exhibited globally, including at the Venice Biennale. His practice integrates painting, sculpture, video, and installation, often drawing from philosophy, literature, and sociology. Briffa served as Head of Digital Arts at the University of Malta and is a fellow of the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.

Austin Camilleri
Born in 1972, Camilleri is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, video, and installation. He studied in Malta and Perugia and has exhibited at major international venues including the Venice Biennale, BOZAR Brussels, and the Vatican Museum. His work often explores themes of transience, identity, and cultural memory. Camilleri is a founding member of several art foundations and lives between Malta and Italy.