More than 100 works by Ġużeppi Briffa are on display in an exhibition at Il-Ħaġar Museum in Victoria, offering a rare glimpse into the work of one of Malta’s most prolific modernist artists.

Briffa, who lived between 1901 and 1987, spent much of the 20th century developing an artistic language that often challenged convention. His work can still be found in churches across Malta and Gozo, while his influence extended to generations of artists who followed.

The exhibition, which includes works from private collections and pieces being shown publicly for the first time, explores the breadth of Briffa’s interests across six themed sections.

Curated by Christian Attard, the exhibition presents Briffa as an artist whose work reflected the changing cultural landscape of the 20th century. He experimented not only with oil painting but also with subject matter, becoming one of the first Maltese artists to draw significantly on themes associated with popular culture.

That approach did not always sit comfortably with the traditions of the time. Briffa faced criticism for moving beyond established artistic conventions, with his choice of subjects also occasionally attracting opposition from sections of the public and the Church.

The exhibition also examines the relationship between spirituality and physicality in Briffa’s work. Rather than treating the two as opposing concepts, the artist approached them as interconnected aspects of human experience.

The exhibition aims to shed light on Briffa’s working methods through a substantial collection of sketches and drawings.

A compulsive draughtsman, Briffa filled pages with ideas and preparatory studies, many of which preceded commissioned paintings. These drawings provide an unusually intimate glimpse into the process behind some of his finished works.

The exhibition at Il-Ħaġar Museum in Victoria runs until 8 September. For more information check out their Facebook page.