Reflections of Tranquillity, a compelling solo exhibition of recent works by artist Richard Saliba, is open at the Palm Court Lounge, The Phoenicia Malta, for the month of February. The exhibition offers audiences an intimate encounter with the serene beauty and meditative spirit of Saliba’s landscape art.
Curated by Charlene Vella, Reflections of Tranquillity showcases a selection of oil paintings that exemplify Saliba’s enduring commitment to capturing the subtle harmonies of natural light, atmospheric space and the Maltese countryside.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Saliba has become one of Malta’s foremost interpreters of landscape, celebrated for his luminous palette and evocative sense of place.
Born in Malta in 1943, Saliba trained at the Government School of Art under the guidance of Esprit Barthet, Vincent Apap and George Borg before furthering his studies in Italy at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Perugia and the Istituto Statale d’Arte in Urbino.
Throughout his prolific career, his work has been repeatedly exhibited in Malta and abroad, and can be found in prominent public and private collections, including Malta’s national collection and the Cathedral Museum in Mdina.
In Reflections of Tranquillity, Saliba’s landscapes invite viewers into quiet vistas suffused with light and colour. His compositions often situate the viewer at the edge of expansive fields or gently rolling terrain, where rich hues of ochre, olive and azure converge in rhythmic brushwork that conveys both calm and quiet intensity.
The works on display balance representation and abstraction, embodying a contemplative sensibility that encourages sustained engagement. As such, the exhibition promises to resonate with both seasoned collectors and new audiences drawn to contemplative contemporary painting.
“Tranquillity for me is not merely the absence of motion but a presence of depth,” Saliba says. “Each landscape holds its own breath.”
Reflections of Tranquility is open to the public at Palm Court Lounge, The Phoenicia Malta, until March 1. An opening reception will be held on Friday, February 6, at 7 pm.
