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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 DECEMBER 2020 4 ART Emerging artist Anna Calleja plans first solo show for March 2021 EMERGING artist Anna Calleja is currently building a body of work for her solo show in March of 2021 at the Palazzo De La Salle, home of the Malta Society of Arts. She recently graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Fal- mouth University, partly funded by the Malta Arts Scholarship scheme. Calleja's work presents an introspective, and personal response to her surroundings. Although she works with vari- ous materials, her current body of work primarily consists of representational paintings and prints using traditional techniques of oil painting and printmaking. Distinctive quali- ties characterise her work, in- cluding muted earthy colours and her ability to convey tex- tures of home; the wooliness of a jumper and the subtle shine on a leather shoe. The figures in her work, often a reflection of herself, are suspended in a quiet and contemplative space. The stillness almost becomes an act of transgression against our current day to day fast- paced system that relies on constant productivity. Her work is often fuelled by her sen- sitivity towards political and social issues that have habitu- ally played a role in her life and artistic practice. Calleja speaks about her work with honesty and vulnerability, dissecting each piece into personal expe- riences and layered concepts; from deactivating the male gaze in the reclining female nude, to the act of looking out into uncertainty, as in Casper David Friedrich's "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog". The reflected eeriness is bal- anced with elements of com- fort and connection; such as soft textures, facetime calls, and two pairs of cosy slippers. The work is relatable, consist- ently evoking feelings of be- longing and domesticity. From the way a mirror fogs up, to crumpled bed sheets and soft textured clothing - Calleja's work is uniquely familiar. Anna Calleja has exhibited locally and abroad, including Wignacourt Museum, Tate St.Ives, Porthmeor Studios and the Mall Galleries in Lon- don. Her painting, "Alone in Quarantine" has recently been awarded a Winsor and Newton Young Artist Award from the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Calleja shines bright and hum- ble with her outstanding reper- toire at just 22 years of age. To keep updated on her journey towards her first solo show in March 2021, follow her on In- stagram @annacallejapaints or visit her website www.anna- calleja.co.uk. Anna Calleja, Alone in Quarantine, oil on canvas, 2020 (above), Emerging artist Anna Calleja (below)