The Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH), Ontario, Canada’s 3rd largest public Gallery, has announced the acquisition of three important works by Gozitan born artist Joseph Calleja. Born in Xewkija, Gozo in 1924, Calleja emigrated to Canada in 1958, living and teaching art in Hamilton between 1960 and 1968, before settling in Toronto Ontario.
In 1992, the AGH acquired a major kinetic work by Calleja, Spring Revelry. This donation was followed, a few years later, by several small studies, thereby acknowledging the AGH’s commitment to the multi-disciplinary artist’s practice.
Senior Curator of Canadian Historical Art, Tobi Bruce, said that this summer the Gallery has added three works by Calleja with a view to broadening his representation in various media. As such he said, the oil painting Landscape, AutumnColours, Canada (1965), the limestone sculpture Mind and Spirit (1984) and the kinetic sculpture The Wave (1976) make significant contributions to our permanent holdings.
Mr Bruce concluded by saying that this acquisition further acknowledges Calleja’s importance as a senior Canadian artist as well as his versatility, and recognizes his place in the history of national and international art movements.
The painting shown above is displayed at the Residence of the Maltese High Commission in Forest Hills, Washington DC.