Mood Over Detail: Sarah Calleja’s ‘Tonal Whispers’ Marks An Artistic Evolution
Sarah Calleja’s latest solo show, Tonal Whispers, has just opened and it’s one of the most quietly powerful exhibitions to land in Malta this year.
Running until 31st May at Camilleri Paris Mode in Rabat, the exhibition brings together over thirty new works by the artist, painted over the past six years.
The collection includes watercolours, oils, and acrylics, all drawn from a deeply atmospheric, introspective palette that invites viewers to slow down and sink into each scene.
Known for her subtle brushwork and muted colours, Calleja leans into the art of Tonalism, a 19th-century movement that prioritised mood over realism. And here, mood reigns supreme.
From moonlit paths to dusky skies and dreamlike seascapes, these are not paintings of places so much as paintings of feeling. And in a time of noise and distraction, Calleja offers something rare: a moment of quiet.
Her evolution from architect to painter is clear. Her lines have softened, her palette has grown more confident, and her compositions now breathe with an emotional clarity that doesn’t demand attention, it earns it.
One of the exhibition’s highlights, Moonlit Path, is a glowing example of Calleja’s ability to convey serenity with just a few strokes and a limited colour range.
Meanwhile, works like Sally Port push her tonalism into warmer, more expressive territory, without losing their meditative core.
If you’re in need of a visual sanctuary, somewhere to slow your pace and let yourself feel, Tonal Whispers is that space.
Exhibition open daily at Camilleri Paris Mode, Rabat, until 31st May.
READ NEXT: 50 Paintings Celebrating The Interior And Exterior Of The St John's Co-Cathedral
