Maltese artist Anna Calleja has been selected as one of three artists to participate in the fifth residency program organised by The Great Women Artists, in collaboration with Palazzo Monti.

This prestigious opportunity, curated by renowned art historian and curator Katy Hessel, will culminate in an exhibition opening on Saturday 30th November.

Expressing her gratitude, Calleja shared, “Thank you Palazzo Monti and The Great Women Artists for inviting me to spend two months making work in Brescia, Italy. It’s already been so so wonderful!”

Born in 1997, Calleja is a versatile artist whose work spans painting, printmaking, and installation. Her art delves into the dualities of human experience, exploring themes such as connection and isolation, love and grief, and memory and uncertainty. Her pieces begin from her personal archive—sometimes real, sometimes imagined—capturing moments and places she’s held as “home.”

Through her art, she connects with the historical continuum of figurative painting, reinventing motifs to reflect on present-day concerns.

Calleja’s academic background includes a degree in Fine Art from Falmouth University, after which she has exhibited internationally, showcasing her work in major cultural hubs such as London, Paris, Berlin, New York City, and Dallas.

She has also received notable recognition, including the Premju Għall-Arti for Best Young Artist from Arts Council Malta.

Palazzo Monti, established in 2017, is an independent artist residency program located in an eight-century-old palazzo in Brescia, Italy.

Well done Anna Calleja!