From Valletta To Sliema: Calì’s Journey Wraps Up

Stqarrija bil-Malti Agħfas Hawn / Press Release in Maltese Click Here

Press Release│ 7 October 2025

The touring exhibition ‘Your MUŻA: Celebrating Giuseppe Calì’ has reached its final destination at the Sacro Cuor Parish Church in Sliema, following successful showcases in Valletta, Mosta, and Lija. The exhibition runs until Wednesday 15th October.

This concluding chapter of a journey which began in May was inaugurated by Godwin Vella, Senior Manager of Heritage Malta’s publishing house, and Dr. Mark Sagona, Head of the Department of Arts and Art History at the University of Malta.

Mario Cutajar, Heritage Malta’s Chairman, MUŻA’s Director and the exhibition’s curator, remarked: “This was an experience that gave new knowledge both to all those who visited it and to MUŻA itself. This was the first exhibition of its kind in Malta, touring places that feature works by Giuseppe Calì, and the second in the series ‘Your MUŻA’. The public’s response encourages us to continue creating initiatives that bring MUŻA closer to communities and highlight the richness of our heritage. MUŻA continues to establish itself as an active centre of art in all its forms, with plans for the rest of this year and the next, that include the second edition of the Malta Biennale and the new public programme which builds on these achievements.”

Born in Valletta in 1846 to Neapolitan parents who fled the political turmoil that flared up in Naples a few years before, Calì remains one of our country’s greatest artists of all time. Trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Naples, Calì returned home to forge a lasting legacy – starting as a theatre scenographer before becoming renowned for his portraits and church commissions across Malta and Gozo.

‘Your MUŻA’ is an outreach initiative that extends the national collection beyond the museum walls, making art more accessible and relevant to communities. By presenting works in localities tied to the featured artist, the project ensures that national treasures are experienced in meaningful contexts. The exhibition’s first three stops drew hundreds of visitors, confirming a strong appetite for cultural encounters close to home.

The Sliema presentation carries particular resonance. It reunites the parish with the original bozzetto of the painting of St Jerome produced by Calì in 1881, brought specially from MUŻA. Visitors can also admire Calì’s iconic ‘The Death of Dragut’, works by his contemporaries, preparatory sketches, and archival material that provide unique insights into the artist’s life and practice.