Run by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, the Victor Pasmore Gallery on St Paul’s Street, Valletta, has one of the world’s most extensive collections of paintings by a man whose work has been described as the most revolutionary event in post-war British art.
Victor Pasmore was born in England in 1908 and became one of the leading lights of the abstract movement. Although he had no formal artistic education, he held several academic posts in the UK, including at the London Central School of Arts and Crafts, and at Durham University.
His rise to international prominence came in 1960, when he participated in the Venice Biennale, which also brought him into contact with Malta. In fact, by 1966, he had bought a farmhouse in Gudja and moved here permanently.
The Gallery – the space for which has been made available by APS upon the bank’s move to Republic Street – houses many of Pasmore’s incredible and unique paintings. These include treasures like The Eye and the Symbol, Linear Symmetry in Five Movements, and Projective image in White, Black and Umber.
This is a particularly special space, especially considering that Pasmore’s work forms part of many of the world’s most important art collections, including those at the Royal Academy of Arts, the Tate Modern, and Marlborough Gallery, which are all in London); the Museum of Modern Art in New York; and at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, France.
Moreover, the space often hosts temporary exhibitions of artwork by important, 20th century Maltese artists, so there’s always something new and exciting to see.
Currently, the venue is closed but it should be reopening soon. So, our advice is to put it on your list and to head there as soon as possible!