Christopher Saliba (b. 1975) is a multidisciplinary artist practising in Malta. He graduated from the University of Malta in 1996 with a degree in Art Education. In 1997 he was awarded a four‑year scholarship by the Italian Government to pursue advanced studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti “Pietro Vannucci” in Perugia, specialising in abstract painting, sculpture, ceramics and etching. Upon returning to Malta, Saliba settled in Gozo, where he resumed his career as an art educator while maintaining a dedicated studio practice. He has held numerous solo exhibitions in leading Maltese institutions, including the National Museum of Fine Arts, St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, and Auberge d’Italie (now MUZA) in Valletta. His work has also been showcased internationally in both solo and collective exhibitions in Perugia, London, Paris, Palermo, Manama, Brussels, and Osaka. Saliba has received multiple distinctions, including awards in the painting categories of the 2007 Malta International Biennale (with 135 participating nations) and the 10th National Art Competition & Exhibition held at Palazzo de La Salle in 2011. He has also been invited to exhibit at prestigious venues such as the Louvre in Paris and the European Parliament in Brussels. His works form part of Malta’s National Art Collection, various public entities, and numerous private collections in Europe, Japan, Dubai, Canada, Australia, and the United States. Following its selection in a Gozo public art competition, his large-scale sculpture Encounter has recently been erected and now stands as a permanent installation on the island.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
October 2004, Transcending the Ordinary, Banca Giuratale, Victoria, Gozo. October 2006, Of Time and Timelessness, St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta. November 2007, Roots of an Island, The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. July 2008, Defining Confines, Le Meridien, St.Julians. July 2009, Formations, The Citadel Arts Centre, Victoria. Gozo. October 2009, Time Frames 1880 - 2009 (video installation), The Cabinet Room, Auberge de Castille, Valletta. April 2010, Introspections, the Auberge d'Italie, Valletta. January 2011, Lux Aeterna - Sul Viaggio della Luce, Galleria di Villa Niscemi, Palermo. December 2012, Places Revisited, Chetcuti Cauchi, Valletta. October 2018, Naked Souls, Art Cube, Xewkija, Gozo. December 2019, Red is the Colour, Ta' Mena Experience, Xewkija, Gozo. April 2021, A Collection of Abstract and Semi-abstract Paintings, Chetcuti Cauchi, Valletta. December 2024, Skylines, Art..e Gallery, Victoria, Gozo.
SELECTED COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
April 1998, Pruriti (installations), L'Atelier, Via dell' Aquila, Perugia. June 1999, Caratteri 1999 (installations), Sant' Andrea d'Agliano, Perugia. June 2000, Caratteri della Memoria (installations), Parco Santa Margherita, Perugia. March 2001, Estasi (paintings), Galleria Fabbricato d'Italia, Perugia. May 2001, Gener-azioni, Accademia di Belle Arti, Pietro Vannucci, Perugia. September 2003, Malta Day (paintings), St. Columba's Church Hall, Pont Street, London. March 2007, 30 Years of Art in Malta, Intercontinental, St. Julian's. June 2007, Malta International (105 nations) Art Biennale, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. July 2007, Tribute to Malta, Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot, Paris. March 2008, Selection D.O.C. (in collaboration with Mario Cassar), Gallery art...e, Victoria, Gozo. November 2008, Itinera 2: collective exhibition by artists who studied in Italy, Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta. September 2009, Les Grands Maitres de Demain, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris. September 2011, 10th National Art Competition & Exhibition, Palazzo de La Salle, Valletta. November 2014, Selfie: an exhibition of self-portraits, Studio 104, Valletta. October 2015, Places (in collaboration with Paul Stellini), Banca Giuratale, Victoria, Gozo. May 2016,Summer Art Exhibition, the Domain, Manama. June 2017, Memorie del Presente e del Passato, Auditorium, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, Narni. March 2018,Embracing Change in Gozo, Altiero Spinelli Building, European Parliament, Brussels. April 2018,Of Land and Sea (in collaboration with Kevin Sciberras and Antonio Mifsud), Ministry for Gozo Exhibition Hall, Victoria. February 2020, EUAsia Creative Mood through Generations of Art (curated by ASG Produzioni and Fondazione Luciana Matalon), Art Fair 2020, Superstudio Piu', Milan. March 2023, The Order of Malta National Art Exhibition, St John’s Cavalier, Valletta. April 2024, Land and Sea (in collaboration with Henry Falzon and Marisa Attard), Gallery 23, Balzan. April 2026, A Sacred Dialogue (in collaboration with Mario Sammut),Sacred Heart Seminary, Victoria, Gozo.
