Biography
Art historian, art critic, curator and practicing artist.
Biographical Notes
1958 | Born in Malta |
1979–81 | National School of Arts, Malta |
1982–84 | Accademia di Belle Arti, Perugia, Italy |
1984–89 | Sailing/ Painting Expedition from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean |
1989–92 | Elected member of the Aesthetics Board – A statutory body established to consider planning applications under the Aesthetics Ordinance |
1990–93 | Assistant Curator, Melitensia Art Gallery, Malta |
1999 | Demarco European Art Foundation Summer School, Malta |
2000–03 | Member on the interim board of directors of St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity |
2003–09 | Partner, AG Design Group |
2011–14 | Master in Fine Art and Digital Media, University of Malta |
2014–16 | VIVA Curatorial School, Valletta, Malta |
2014–20 | University Lecturer, Department of Digital Art, University of Malta |
Anna Grima MA (b. 1958) lives and works in Malta and Gozo. Throughout her career, Anna has been known for having a portfolio of work that includes elements of energy, and complexity. Although considered a figurative artist, her recent Abstract paintings are about exploring form and colour with spontaneous, simplified rhythmic shapes and saturated hues. Interdisciplinary art practices include painting, drawing and illustration, creative writing and print-making.
Anna’s earliest influence was her aunt, artist Blanche Ellul Sullivan (1907–2002). Concerned with the spiritual in art, Anna was also influenced by Wassily Kandinsky, Odilon Redon, and early 20th century illustrator, Kay Nielsen. In 1981, she studied Foundation at the National School of Arts, Malta, followed by a scholarship to study figure drawing at the Accademia di Belle Arti Pietro Vannucci, Perugia granted by the Italian Cultural Institute. In 1982, Anna exhibited for the first time in the collective Maltese Women Artists at Gallery Fenici, curated by Norbert Attard and Denis Vella (1953-2009). Her first solo exhibition was at Galerie Ripard, Fontainebleau in Paris in 1984, followed by a painting/sailing expedition for 6 years in the Indian and Pacific Oceans practicing the ancient Japanese art of Gyotaku at sea around the Indonesian archipelago, later to exhibit her works in Western Australia and San Francisco Ca.
Grima’s ever evolving recent work was exhibited at the Mdina Biennale in 2015 along with artists like Dario Fo, Francesco Infante, and Richard England. Many of her works hang in private and public spaces including in the National Art Collection of Malta through the Fondazzjoni Kreattività Art Collection; and in the permanent Berlaymont summa artis II Collection at the Berlaymont Building, House of the European Commission in Brussels, representing Malta.
Solo Exhibitions
2017 | Moments of Gold – Art e Gallery, Victoria, Gozo |
2014 | The Birth and Death of Stars – in SEAC: The Materiality of the Sky, the University of Malta and Heritage Malta, Aula Magna Campus, Valletta |
2004 | Native Spirit – Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, Lija, Malta |
2002 | The Way of the Heart – St James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta |
1998 | Stone Goddess – Manoel Theatre, Valletta, Malta |
1997 | Maltese Street Scenes – Kennedy Nova, the Strand, Sliema, Malta |
1995 | Earth and Sky – University of Malta, Msida, Malta |
1992 | Maltese Landscape and Still Life – Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta |
1989 | Reflecting Gozo – Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta |
1986 | Marine Life in watercolour – Esplanade Plaza Hotel, Fremantle, Western Australia |
1985 | Malta in watercolour – Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta |
1984 | The Nude in watercolour – Galerie Ripard, Fontainbleau, Paris, France |
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 | ‘Collectibles’ Marie Gallery, The Centre – Tignè Point. Official Launch. |
2022 | The Colour Project, Modern Art Gallery, Marsaskala MARA – Bureau Iniala, Valletta, Malta |
2020 | Art+Feminism – Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta |
2019 | Wiki loves Art/Art+Feminism – Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta Longing and Belonging – Malta Enterprise, Pietà, Malta The Fine Arts Auction – President’s Palace, Attard, Malta |
2018 | Id-Dinja M’Għadiex Ċatta – European Court of Auditors, Luxembourg |
2017 | The Fabriano in Watercolour 2017 Exhibition, Fabriano, Italy. |
2015 | Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Biennale – Mdina Museum, Malta; root; route; rotot; għeruq – Malta Maritime Museum, Vittoriosa, Malta |
2014 | Propolis – MFA Degree Exhibition, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta Summa Artis Collection – The Berlaymont Building, Brussels, Belgium |
2012 | APS Bank Exhibition – APS Centre, Birkirkara, Malta |
2011 | Strada Stretta – ‘Splendid’ 74, Strait Street Valletta, Malta |
2010 | Woman’s Day – President’s Palace, Attard, Malta Heritage at Risk – National Museum of Natural History, Mdina, Malta A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever – Angeli Gallery, Sliema, Malta A Night of Art – Camilleri Paris Mode, Rabat, Malta |
2009 | The Fine Art Auction – President’s Palace, Attard, Malta |
2008 | Bloodline – Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, Lija, Malta |
2007 | Metageum ’07: Exploring the Megalithic Mind – Carraffa Stores, Birgu, Malta |
2005 | Ten Watercolourists – Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, Lija, Malta Sacred Footprints – Neolithia Foundation and Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University, UK Wine and Vineyards – Camilleri Wines, Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, Lija, Malta |
2004 | Caravaggio, La Mostra Impossibile – Carraffa Stores, Birgu, Malta |
2001 | Angels – St James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta 70/2000, The Road to Meikel Seiggie – Demarco European Art Foundation, Gallery Vilnius, Lithuania Neolithia – Neolithia Foundation, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta |
2000 | Temples Malta – Californian Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, USA The Scottish Rites Temple, Oakland and The Bade Gallery, Berkley University, California, USA 70/2000, The Road to Meikel Seiggie – Picker Gallery, Kingston, UK |
2000 | 70/2000, The Road to Meikel Seiggie – Picker Gallery, Kingston, UK Art in Malta Today – National Arts Centre, St. James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta |
1999 | Sacred Journeys – Demarco European Art Foundation and Matthew Gallery, Edinburgh Arts Festival, Scotland Seven Temples Seven Women – Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta Isole – Commune di Padru, Sardegna, Italy Il Mara II – Westin Dragonara Hotel, Paceville, Malta Winsor & Newton Millennium Exhibition – Museum of Fine Arts, Malta Maltese Women Artists – PN Headquarters, Gwardamangia, Malta From Ħaġar Qim to the Ring of Brodgar – Demarco European Art Foundation and Maritime Museum, Birgu, Malta |
1998 | Maltese Contemporary Art – Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Dubai Contemporary Christian Art – Cathedral Museum, Mdina, Malta Contemporary Art Auction – The President’s Palace, Attard, Malta Ħarsti Lura – St James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta |
1998 | Permanence in Dignity – Opera Ruins, Valletta, Malta II-Mara I – Westin Dragonara Hotel, Paceville, Malta The Resurrection and the Life – The Old Mint, Valletta, Malta The Modern Still Life, Object of Desire – Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar, Malta |
1997 | Contemporary Art Auction – The President’s Palace Attard, Malta Sacred Art Exhibition – The Archbishop’s Seminary, Tal-Virtu Rabat, Malta 2nd International Art Biennale Malta – St. Dominic’s Priory, Rabat, Malta |
1996 | Contemporary Christian Art – Cathedral Museum, Mdina, Malta Maltafest – Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta Kreattiva: IVA – Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta Four for Watercolours – Museum of Fine Arts Valletta, Malta |
1995 | Earth and Sky – International Woman’s Day, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland 1st International Art Biennale Malta – Mediterranean Conference Centre, Malta |
1994 | Grolla D’Oro – Treviso, Italy Maltese Women Artists – Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta The Nude in 20th Century Maltese Art – Robert Sammut Hall, Floriana, Malta |
1992 | L-Auto Ritratt Malti – Robert Sammut Hall, Floriana, Malta Contemporary Paintings – Farsons Gallery, South Street, Valletta, Malta |
1991 | Paintings of Malta – Melitensia Art Gallery, Lija, Malta |
1990 | Maltese Folklore – World Trade Centre, Toronto, Canada Merħba Bik – Chamber of Commerce, Valletta, Malta |
1986 | Maltese Contemporary Artists – Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, Malta |
1982 | Maltese Women Artists – Gallerija Fenici, Valletta, Malta |
Selected Self-Published Works
2022 | Abstract Giclée prints series on Hahnemühle 305 smooth cotton paper: Breakthrough edition 15 |
2021 | Abstract Giclée prints series on Hahnemühle 305 smooth cotton paper: Incandescence edition 15 |
2011 | Merkaba Ancient Prayers, Limited Edition of 4 prints x 120 |
2004 | Oracle, Limited Edition of 6 prints x 150 |
2002 | The Way of the Heart, Exhibition Catalogue |
2001 | On the Path to Integration, Limited Edition of 12 prints x 120 + 5 Artist Proofs |
2000 | Passing on an Ancient Prayer, Limited Edition of 2 prints x 2000 |
1999 | Recovered Archaeological Finds, Box of 12 informative greeting cards |
Selected Publications, Reviews and Mentions
2020 | The Spazju Kreattiv Art Collection – Toni Sant |
2019 | Il-Mara – iVision, TVM Broadcast |
2017 | Fabriano in Watercolour 2017, eighth edition – 20/23 April 2017 |
2015 | Christianity, Spirituality and the Other – eds. Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci, Irene Biolchini and Nikki Petroni, Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale |
2013 | Berlaymont summa artis [Contemporary Art Collection] – The Office for Infrastructure and Logistics, Brussels (European Commission) |
2011 | APS Art Exhibition [Art Catalogue] – review by Louis Lagana |
2009 | The Fine Arts Auction [Art Catalogue] – President’s Palace, Attard, Malta |
2009 | Heritage at Risk [Art Catalogue] – Museum for Natural History, Mdina, Malta |
2008 | Bloodline [Art Catalogue] – Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, Lija, Malta |
2008 | Cross Currents, Critical Essays on Art and Culture in Malta – ed. Raphael Vella, Allied Publication |
2007 | 13 Maltese Female Artists [Calendar] – Bank of Valletta, Malta |
2007 | They Got Soul – Vivre, the magazine for the connoisseur |
2005 | Capturing the Cyclical View – Malta Today |
2005 | 10 Watercolourists – Grimand Publications Ltd., Malta |
2004 | The Malta Stamp Collection 1964–2004 – Maltapost |
2002 | The International Dictionary of Artists who Painted Malta [1st and 2nd Edition]– Nicholas Depiro, AVC publishers, Malta |
2000 | Art in Malta Today [Art Catalogue] – ed. Joseph Paul Cassar, St James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta |
1999 | Facets of Maltese History – Anton Mifsud and Charles Savona Ventura, Malta Prehistoric Society, Malta |
1999 | Seven Temples Seven Women – Neolithia Foundation, Malta |
1997 | Maltese Biographies of the 20th Century – Michael J. Schiavone and Louis Scerri |
1995 | Roses [Greeting Card] – United Nations Children’s Fund, New York, New York, United States |
1992 | Artist with an Eye for Adventure – Daphne Caruana Galizia, The Independent |
1986 | Voyage across the World leads to Fremantle art exhibition – Tracy Peacock, Daily News,Western Australia |
1985 | Contemporary Maltese Artists – Adrian Stivala, North Star Publications, Malta |
1982 | Maltese Women Artists [Catalogue] – Gallerija Fenici, Valletta, Malta |
Public Collections
- The Millenium Chapel, Paceville, Malta
- Le Meridien Hotel & Spa, St Julian’s,- Malta
- Berlaymont Summa Artis Collection, Brussels, Belgium
- Bank of Valletta, Siggiewi, Malta
- APS Bank, Zejtun, Malta
- IZOLA Bank, Valletta, Malta
- Camilleri Preziosi Advocates, Malta
- Corinthia Group of Companies, Malta
- Demarco European Art Archive, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Ernst And Young, Msida, Malta
- Marsovin Ltd, Malta
- Neolithia Foundation, Malta
- RSM Malta, Zebbug, Malta
- Spazju Kreattiv, Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta
- The Palliative Multi-Faith Room, Samoc, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta
- St Patrick’s Hotel, Gozo
- The Global Group, Malta
- The Grand Hotel, Gozo
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Malta