Zack Ritchie began his creative career behind a laptop designing logos, building brands, and
crafting visual stories for clients across Malta and beyond. But even then, something felt missing.
“I loved design,” Zack says. “But I always wanted to build something bigger. Something you could stand next to. Something that made people stop and feel proud of where they are.”
That dream to take art beyond the screen and into public space planted the seed for what has now become one of Malta’s most quietly ambitious creative missions: to turn the island into a cultural playground, one sculpture at a time.
A designer’s leap of faith
Zack’s first step toward sculpture wasn’t smooth. A few years ago, he applied to a public art competition with a bold idea creating landmark characters that could represent Maltese identity in a playful, modern way. He didn’t win.
“That rejection stung,” he admits. “But it taught me that good ideas take time. And if you believe in something, you keep showing up.”
He took what he learned from that experience and began refining his vision. He met with architects. He reworked his proposal. He asked better questions. And eventually, his persistence paid off Mercury Towers invited him to present a new concept.
Instead of one sculpture, they commissioned five and the Archipals Project was born. These sculptures weren’t just decorative. They were designed to humanise Maltese culture and turning values like courage, curiosity, and connection into tangible, large scale characters. Visitors could walk around them. Families could take photos with them. Locals could see their own stories reflected back.
The sculptures became a hit earning Zack recognition from international awards bodies including MaSP, the IP Awards, ADC, and FTNFT. More importantly, they made public space feel personal.
The sixth sculpture: Familja
Now, Zack has unveiled his sixth piece: a copper sculpture titled Familja, commissioned by Pendergardens and Mercury and installed just steps away from his previous works in St. Julian’s.
Familja shows a group of stylized figures holding hands each different in size, shape, and energy. Some are topped with musical notes instead of heads, a visual metaphor for the different rhythms and frequencies we all carry.
“It’s about community,” Zack explains. “About how places change from nightlife hubs to family neighbourhoods but people stay connected. We grow, adapt, and move forward together.”
A bigger vision
The sculpture sits in a location that has undergone its own transformation, mirroring the artwork’s message. It’s a reminder that beauty can evolve, just like the spaces we live in.
Zack’s long-term goal is as ambitious as it is heartfelt: to fill Malta with public sculptures that speak to our values and culture, making the island not just a destination, but an open-air storybook.
“Other cities use art to shape identity and bring people together. Why not us?” he asks. “We have the stories. We just need to bring them to life.”
Six sculptures in, all located in St. Julian’s, Zack is proving what’s possible when design meets determination. He may have started behind a screen but today, his work lives out in the open, reminding us of who we are.
And this is only the beginning. We can’t wait to see more!
See more on Zack here.
