Maltese artist Noel Attard presents The Connection, a new exhibition of paintings exploring the relationship between artwork and viewer, opening at Rudy Buhler Art Gallery in Marsaskala on 16 October 2026.
In The Connection, Attard invites viewers to find something of themselves within his paintings - to recognise their own experiences, emotions, memories and ideas in the works before them. Rather than treating an artwork as something with a single, predetermined meaning, the exhibition considers the personal experiences that each viewer brings to the act of looking.
Attard's approach reflects the ideas of art historian Michael Baxandall, who argued that viewers approach artworks with what may be described as "mental baggage": a combination of personal emotions, experiences, knowledge, cultural background, habits, expectations and even their mood at the moment of viewing.
This perspective lies at the heart of The Connection. The same artwork may evoke entirely different responses from different people because every viewer brings a unique history and set of associations to the encounter. Attard's paintings therefore become not only objects to be observed, but spaces in which personal memories, emotions and interpretations can emerge.
The artist's use of varied materials adds another dimension to this experience. Through texture, surface and materiality, Attard stimulates the viewer's senses and imagination, encouraging a more active and intimate engagement with the works.
About the Artist
Born on 15 April 1966, Noel Attard was introduced to the art world at an early age by his father, who was himself a practising artist. Raised in an artistic environment, Attard developed a strong connection with art and was inspired to continue the artistic legacy surrounding him.
He attended various art schools and studied under renowned Maltese and international artists before complementing his practical training with academic study. In 2006, he graduated with honours in History of Art from the University of Malta. He subsequently obtained a Master's Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Malta in 2016.
Attard has held six previous solo exhibitions, exploring a diverse range of themes and subjects. His practice has encompassed seascapes, landscapes and psychological themes, expressed through both painting and sculpture.
His works are held in private collections in Malta and internationally, including in Japan, Scotland, England, France, Italy, Norway, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Attard has also received significant commissions and recognition for his work. In 2007, he was commissioned to create an artwork for the President of the Republic of Malta. In 2012, one of his artworks was presented to the King of Jordan and is now part of the Jordan Museum collection.
The exhibition closes on Sunday 8th November.