THE TEAM

ADRIAN MM ABELA

Born in Pietà, Malta, in 1989
Lives and works in Los Angeles, California

Adrian MM Abela studied architecture and civil engineering in Malta and Milan and received an MFA in sculpture from UCLA. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles. Abela’s practice meanders between poetry and metaphor, to provide situations in which to share visceral experiences of the here and now with its multiple histories and possible futures. His endeavours stem from curiosities around encountered materials and/or narratives in the waking and/or dreaming states. Using science and inspiration he questions identity, self or the notion of knowledge, while dancing around paradoxes regarding the awareness of being a system harbouring and forming part of a self-similar system.

RAPHAEL VELLA

Born in Sliema, Malta, in 1967
Lives and works in Għargħur, Malta

Raphael Vella is a contemporary artist working in drawing, installation and stop motion. His work has been shown in many venues around the world, including the Robert McDougall Art Gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand; Den Haag Sculptuur in the Netherlands; Modern Art Oxford, UK; Domaine Pommery in Reims, France; Palazzo Bembo, Venice, Italy; the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw; Poland; the EU Delegation Building in Washington DC, USA; and the Art Gallery of Burlington in Ontario, Canada. Recent curated solo exhibitions include Vilnius Graphic Art Centre, Lithuania and Altán Klamovka, Prague, Czechia. As a curator he has been active since 2002, curating in several art centres and public museums in Malta and internationally. In 2014 he conceived the Valletta International Visual Arts festival (VIVA) and directed the first two editions (2014, 2015). He was also co-curator of the Malta Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017. Raphael Vella is also a full Professor at the University of Malta.

CHARLIE CAUCHI

Born in London, UK, in 1980
Lives and works in Valletta, Malta

Charlie Cauchi is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker. She holds a BA and an MA in Film Studies from Queen Mary University of London. Her academic contributions focus on small national cinemas, with a particular emphasis on Malta. Her practice is highly personal, taking a biographical approach. A common preoccupation in her work is runway productions, often using films shot on location in Malta to untangle identity and representation. She often uses her work to understand and heal fractured familial relationships and to explore identity themes, including gender identity, cultural heritage, and diasporic narratives. Charlie is currently producing/directing a feature-length documentary, Stratum, which revolves around the groundbreaking archaeological discoveries of Prof. Eleanor Scerri and Prof. Nicholas Vella that are reshaping Malta’s prehistoric timeline. She is also co-founder of Rosa Kwir, Malta’s first dedicated LGBTQI+ gallery and archive, with artist Romeo Roxman Gatt.

MARGERITA PULE

Born in Attard, Malta, in 1976
Lives and works in Sliema, Malta

Margerita Pulè is an independent curator and researcher. She is founder-director of Unfinished Art Space, an independent and nomadic space showing contemporary art in Malta, and a founder member of Magna Żmien a grass-roots organisation which digitises 20th century analogue material. She is also a doctoral student with the Department of Digital Art within the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Science at the University of Malta. In 2024, Margerita was one of four practitioners awarded Arts Council Malta’s first Sabbatical for Artistic Research, and through this grant researched curatorial methodologies outside of traditional exhibition contexts. Her curatorial practice focuses on experimental, site-specific, and research-led curatorial practices, often operating outside traditional exhibition formats and engaging with critical, political, and feminist methodologies.

MARK SULLIVAN

Mark Sullivan is an architect, engineer, and co-founder of SON Architecture Studio. His practice engages architecture as a site of experimentation, where urban space, design, and visual culture intersect. He is also co-founder of R Gallery, contributing actively to Malta’s contemporary art ecosystem.

JULIAN VASSALLO

Julian Vassallo is an architect and photographer whose work explores the relationship between people and the built environment. Using a slow, large-format photographic process, his images capture subtle moments of everyday life shaped by space, structure, and human presence.

TAMARA BURR

Tamara Burr is an arts operations and management professional whose practice moves fluidly between creative production, strategy, and cultural leadership. With a background in art history and project management, she supports creative practices through sharp operational oversight, strategic planning, and long-term partnerships. She currently leads operations at the renowned Luke Azzopardi Atelier, overseeing day-to-day studio activity and the delivery of high-profile projects.

KATHRINE MAJ

Kathrine Maj is a visual artist based in Malta and the founder and creative director of R Gallery in Sliema. Alongside her artistic practice, she works curatorially and forms part of the curatorial team for the Malta National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2026.

ALEXANDRA PACE

Alexandra Pace is a multidisciplinary artist working across photography, visual identity, print and digital design. Her practice supports artists and cultural organisations by translating research and creative concepts into clear, engaging visual communication.

ALESSIA CARUANA

Alessia Caruana is a content creator and marketing strategist specialising in arts and cultural campaigns. She has worked closely with national institutions, festivals, and independent projects, shaping communication strategies, social media presence, and brand identities across the cultural sector.

UNFINISHED ART SPACE

Unfinished Art Space produces experimental, site-specific, and research-driven contemporary art projects from the island of Malta. Working locally and internationally, the organisation collaborates with artists, curators, and communities to develop politically engaged and critically driven creative projects.

R GALLERY

R Gallery is a contemporary art space in Sliema dedicated to bold, critically engaged programming. Hosting exhibitions, talks, and interdisciplinary projects, the gallery acts as a platform for emerging and mid-career artists while fostering dialogue within Malta’s cultural landscape.