Biography
Christopher Saliba (b.1975) studied Art Education at the University of Malta and qualified as an Art teacher in 1996. In 1997, at the age of 22, the Italian Government granted him a four-year scholarship at the Accademia di Belle Arti "Pietro Vannucci" in Perugia. His main areas of specialisation were  abstract painting, sculpture and etching. The informal and progressive methods applied at the Accademia di Belle Arti  enabled  Saliba to develop an inquisitive and auto-critical approach in relation to his artistic development.   Between 1999 and 2001, Saliba participated in important artistic projects organised by the Accademia which were supported by prestigious art institutions in Perugia and acclaimed by art critics in Italy. During this period, he took part in collective expositions  and produced various installations and video art.	Photo courtesy of René Rossignaud
Painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installations and video art are still valid means which enable  Christopher Saliba to express his thoughts and emotions. His approach to art is quite versatile and painting is just one medium in his repertoire of artistic creations. Through his work, Saliba tries to reveal the complex nature of the human being as well as the primordial link between mankind and the natural environment. Being a native of Gozo – a very small island situated at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea -  explains his interest in expressing symbolically the spatial and physical limitations that people living in confined spaces  have to endure. Surpassing boundaries and looking beyond the horizon are common themes recurrent in his works. Christopher Saliba lives and works in Nadur, Gozo, Malta. He held several solo exhibitions and participated in numerous prestigious group exhibitions. He also won several  prizes including an award in the painting category of the 2007 Malta International Biennale (135 nations). He exhibited several times in different countries like Italy, England, France and Malta and his works are found in numerous art collections in Europe, Japan, Canada and the United States. His works  are found as well in the permanent  collections  of important art institutions, namely The Accademia di Belle Arti, “Pietro Vannucci”, in Perugia, The St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity and the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta, Malta.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBTIONS

February 2002, Dimensions of the Soul, Banca Guiratale, Victoria, Gozo.
September 2003, Idylls of Gozo, Ministry Exhibition Hall, Victoria, Gozo.
October 2004, Transcending the Ordinary, Banca Giuratale, Victoria, Gozo.
April 2005, Realms of the Spirit, Cleland & Souchet, Portomaso, St. Julians, Malta.
October 2005, Silent Places, Ministry Exhibition Hall, Victoria, Gozo.
May 2006, Impressions, Cleland & Souchet, Portomaso, St.Julians, Malta.
October 2006, Of Time and Timelessness, St.James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta.
November 2007, Roots of an Island, The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta.
December 2008, Virtual Confinement (video art installation), St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta.

SELECTED COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS

April 1998, Pruriti (installations), L'Atelier, Via dell' Aquila, Perugia, Italy.
June 1999, Caratteri 1999 (installations), Sant' Andrea d'Agliano, Perugia, Italy.
June 2000, Caratteri della Memoria (installations), Parco Santa Margherita, Perugia, Italy.
March 2001, Estasi (paintings), Galleria Fabbricato d'Italia, Perugia, Italy.
May 2001, Gener-azioni, Accademia di Belle Arti, Pietro Vannucci, Perugia, Italy.
September 2003, Malta Day (paintings), St. Columba's Church Hall, Pont Street, London, England.
September 2006, Rotta ta' l-Arti - Indipendenza 2006 (paintings), Mdina, Malta.
March 2007, 30 Years of Art in Malta, Intercontinental, St. Julian’s, Malta.
June 2007, Malta International (105 nations) Art Biennale, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.
July 2007, Tribute to Malta, Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot, Paris.
October 2007, Reprocessed (installations), Upper Barrakka  Gardens, Valletta, Malta.
October 2008,  Art Alive: Notte Bianca, Auberge de Castille, Valletta.
November 2008, Itinera 2: collective exhibition by artists who studied in Italy, Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta.

DUO EXHIBITIONS

March 2008, Selection D.O.C.  (in collaboration with Mario Cassar), Gallery art...e, Victoria, Gozo.
July 2008, Dual Connection (in collaboration with Mario Cassar) , Le Meridien Hotel, St.Julians, Malta.