Mary Portelli’s latest exhibition features 45 new works

Nadur local Mary Portelli, an established mosaic artist, is just weeks away from the opening of her upcoming exhibition at Il-Ħaġar Museum in Victoria on September 13.

Portelli told GozoToday that from the moment she discovered mosaic, she was “hooked on it,” and soon gave up other art forms to focus entirely on mosaic work. Since then, she has developed a distinct style, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary approaches.

Her exhibition will showcase 45 new works, several of which depict familiar Gozo landmarks such as the Gran Castello, Comino Tower, St Anthony’s Battery, Kenuna Tower, Gordan Lighthouse, Sopu Tower, and the Carnival Monument in Nadur. 

These mosaics are made primarily from ceramic tiles, which she meticulously cuts to recreate the essence of each building. They are set against backgrounds of varied tesserae, including broken crockery, local stone, smalti, shells, mug handles, and other found media.

Portelli, who began working in mosaics in 2008, often integrates the community into her projects through workshops and collaborative activities. “We always have a lot of interest whenever we put on an activity,” she explained.

Among her notable public works is Reflections and Connections, a mosaic installation on the stairs linking Ħamri Street to St Anthony Street in Għajnsielem, near the Grand Hotel. The project, inspired by the reflections of colourful boats in Mġarr Harbour, celebrates Għajnsielem’s close ties to the sea and its vibrant community. It won the Art in Public Spaces Programme competition, organised by the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Culture and Local Government Ministry, Arts Council Malta, and MUŻA (Heritage Malta).

Curated by Marika Azzopardi, MUŻajk will be inaugurated on Saturday, September 13, at 19:30, and the public is warmly invited to attend.

The exhibition will remain open until November 16, during Il-Ħaġar Museum’s regular hours (09:00–17:00, Monday to Sunday). Admission is free.