Christmas came a couple of weeks early! Join us for a rare opportunity to visit Patrick Dalli's private gallery in Marsaskala. The gallery will be open to the general public on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of December!

I've known Patrick Dalli for many years. I first encountered his work at an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, back when it was still housed on South Street in Valletta. We became friends during the study tours organised by the History of Art Department, which I attended for three consecutive years, first Italy, then France, and finally Germany, almost 20 years ago.

After a few quiet years, our paths crossed again once il-Kamra ta' Fuq came to life in Mqabba. Patrick was, in fact, one of the very first artists to support us, honouring us by wanting to be part of our exhibition programme. His show, Din hi li hi, was absolutely true to his character, no sugar-coating, no frills, just saying things exactly as they are, much like his works themselves.

Another major collaboration was Body Language, a collective exhibition featuring Patrick, Paul Scerri, and Darren Tanti, which I curated in Noto, Sicily. From there, many more cultural trips followed, including visits to the Venice Biennale and other major exhibitions with our beloved art-obsessed group of friends.

Just before Patrick's solo exhibition at Mqabba, he mentioned this mysterious art gallery of his, one I embarrassingly had no idea existed. In my defence, of course, I didn't know about it... It's a secret private gallery! After a visit to his studio, he invited me and my colleague Antoine Farrugia to see it for ourselves.

Oh my, what a treat.

The moment you step inside, you find yourself in a room more than double the size of il-Kamra ta' Fuq, filled with Patrick's portraits. And then I hear, "What are you doing there? Come in!" Through a door, and suddenly you're in this magnificent open-plan space overflowing with large-scale works by Patrick.

Larger-than-life nudes command the walls, each reigning in its own territory, staring back at the viewer with an almost intimidating presence. Spectacular. Another section of the space is dedicated to Patrick's other love: collecting antiques and classical paintings, especially from the Baroque period.  Over the years, we've held a few events there-dinners, evenings with friends, and small gatherings for those who truly love art.

Earlier this year, Patrick came up with the brilliant idea of opening his gallery to the general public for a few days. My colleague Andrew E. Zarb and I were thrilled. As three devoted art lovers, what better way to enjoy art than by sharing the experience?

So here we are, just days away from three special midweek openings. After weeks of reshuffling large works, fine-tuning the lighting, and even removing some baroque pieces to make space for more of Patrick's paintings, the gallery is almost ready. In a few spots, we even created a dialogue between the baroque works and Dalli's contemporary pieces, and the conversation is rather beautiful.

What to expect to see?  The works on display range from Patrick's iconic large nude oil paintings to his smaller watercolour nudes, all created during live sessions with his models. We're also showing a selection of his semi-abstract landscapes, which began emerging during Covid-19. With no possibility of hosting life sessions in the studio, Patrick turned to long walks in the countryside, where inspiration struck unexpectedly. From that first small landscape (also on display!) the series grew into medium works and eventually into truly monumental ones.

Of course, Patrick didn't stop there. The next phase was a merging of his two styles: the figures began to appear within his abstract landscapes. His nudes, painted in his signature style of bold, evident brushstrokes, textured skin, and unapologetically thick paint, now recline on bright, surreal planes of colour.  This fusion creates complex, dreamlike worlds where, at times, the figure dominates her surroundings, and at others, nature gently takes over. A perfect example is a particular work featuring... me! Yes, lucky me, I've been immortalised by the great Patrick Dalli!  In the painting, one of these abstract landscapes unfolds behind me. I stand mid-composition, dressed in black, quite imposing in the foreground, until nature decides otherwise. The colourful field planes begin to take over, and my arms slowly merge with the landscape. The outline of my sleeves becomes the outline of a purple field, blending me into a beautifully surreal world where figure and nature exist as one.

In a nutshell, it's an unexpected retrospective of works spanning decades. This retrospective doesn't follow a narrative, far from it. A work from the '90s might be sitting right next to something Patrick finished last week, yet they all harmoniously sing together as part of his artistic oeuvre.

Why? While reshuffling the works and choosing watercolours and drawings from his extensive collection, some 'forgotten' gems from the '90s and early 2000s resurfaced. Earlier bozzetti and preparatory drawings for very large works also emerged, and a few of these will be playfully displayed next to their monumental counterparts.

You'll also find a small selection of Patrick's very early pieces, which are copies of existing paintings by other artists.  He created these works at the beginning of his artistic journey as a way to strengthen his technique. These works offer a charming glimpse into the foundations of the artist he would later become.

And one might ask: how is it possible to have so many works spanning so many years? The answer is a simple one: Patrick doesn't like to sell his works! And when you ask him why, he'll casually reply, "If I sell these large works, then what will I show my friends at my private gallery?"  The gallery wasn't created for the public, but as a personal haven, a place where Patrick can retreat alone, whisky in hand, to think and reflect, surrounded by his own creations. The works themselves become muses, whispering ideas about where his practice might venture next.  It's also a space where he occasionally invites a select few friends, mostly artists and curators, for quiet conversations about his work, far from the noise of everything else.

So yes, dear reader, this truly is a rare opportunity to experience these works in such an intimate setting over just three special days (while also enjoying a glass of wine in great company).

The gallery is located in Triq Vajrita, Marsaskala, and will be open on the 17th of December from 7pm to 11pm, and on the 18th and 19th of December from 2pm to 8pm. For more information, follow the Facebook page Midweek Art Fix: Patrick Dalli's Private Gallery, or for enquiries, email [email protected].