Rome, Italy

A major exhibition has been inaugurated in Rome last week as part of the cultural programme of the  Embassy of the Republic of Malta in Italy. Ray Pitré Mediterranean Souls | Anime mediterranee is currently on display at Casa Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen in Rome and running until the 22nd September. This is the first international posthumous exhibition dedicated to the Maltese artist Ray Pitrè (1940–2024) following his demise a few years  ago.

Curated by Dr. Sandro Debono, Museum Thinker and Academic, the exhibition presents a never-before-seen selection of works drawn from the artist’s family collection. The curated selection of anonymous portraits and deconstructed human representations traces Pitre’s search into the human soul. Oftentimes dismissed by the artist himself, this repertoire traces Pitrè’s creative evolution from the 1960s to his mature years.

Enabled by the Culture Diplomacy Fund of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and the support of Arts Council Malta, this project celebrates the artistic genius of Ray Pitré, and in so doing, it also sheds light on Malta’s rich artistic patrimony of the late twentieth century.  This beautifully designed exhibition, custom-produced for the historic spaces of the house museum currently hosting it, sets out to capture the spiritual essence and the depth of the sensibilities and fragilities that shape the Mediterranean.

Opening remarks at the inauguration ceremony were delivered by Dott.ssa Giuseppina Di Monte who lauded the friendship between Malta and Italy, and our respective communities. Furthermore, on this occasion, the Museum Director, presented the institutional endorsement of Presidente Federico Mollicone, President of the Culture Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, whose message underscored the cultural and diplomatic significance of this tribute to one of Malta’s most compelling artistic voices.

Permanent Secretary, Mr Christopher Cutajar lent his distinguished institutional presence to this event where he highlighted Ray Pitré’s unique artistic voice.  In his intervention, Mr Cutajar, underscored Malta’s role as a country of culture, dialogue and openness, confident in its identity and keen on enhancing cultural affinities between peoples.

Dr Luke Dalli, Executive Chairperson of Arts Council Malta reaffirmed Arts Council Malta’s dedication to supporting Maltese artistic expression on the international stage. Through this collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, Dr Dalli noted that Arts Council Malta aspires not only to celebrate Ray Pitré merely in his posthumous capacity but also as one of Malta’s most significant twentieth-century artists, whose practice continues to resonate across borders and generations.

Ray Pitrè’s life and career were anything but conventional. Born in Ħal Balzan and raised in Sliema, his early experiences, including his brief stint with the Capuchin Order and later as a police constable stationed at Mount Carmel psychiatric hospital, left a lasting imprint on his sensibility. These encounters with suffering, fragility and the boundaries between inner turmoil and outward indifference would become central themes in his work. From the visceral Scream series of the 1960s to his later assemblages, paintings and writings, Pitré consistently interrogated trauma, memory and mortality through a deeply autobiographical lens.

Internationally exhibited in cities such as London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Brussels, New York and Kyoto, Pitré also represented Malta at the Venice Biennale in 1999. His contributions to national heritage include portraits of Malta’s presidents and prime ministers, ecclesiastical commissions, and designs for Maltese postage stamps. Yet, it was his pioneering engagement with Arte Povera, his use of discarded materials, and his reflections on the entrapments of urbanisation that defined his most personal artistic language. The exhibition’s curatorial concept, developed by Dr Sandro Debono, positions Pitrè as a profoundly Mediterranean artist—one whose work embodies environments shaped by the interplay of light and shadow, permanence and erosion, fragility and resilience. Through constructed surfaces and layered pigments, Pitrè’s anonymous portraits and physiognomies—here reexamined as Mediterranean souls—become sites of excavation that reveal the stratified depths of identity and the artist’s lifelong search for meaning. Throughout the inauguration, Prof. Wain and Dr. Debono conducted guided tours that introduced audiences to the emotional and human dimensions of Pitrè’s work, illuminating not only the artistic trajectory but also the personal qualities and lived experiences that shaped his creative voice. In this spirit, the exhibition invited viewers to encounter Pitré’s oeuvre as both an artistic exploration and a meditation on the spiritual and sensorial landscapes that define the Mediterranean.

At the opening, H.E. Daniel Azzopardi, Ambassador of Malta to Italy, remarked: “Ray Pitrè’s work speaks to the Mediterranean in all its complexity, its beauty, its contradictions and its humanity. Curating this exhibition specifically for a Roman audience is both a tribute to his legacy and a celebration of the cultural dialogue that continues to unite Malta and Italy. We are deeply grateful to the Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen for hosting this important project.”

The Embassy extends its sincere appreciation to Dr Sandro Debono, curator of the exhibition, whose scholarly insight and curatorial vision have been instrumental in shaping this project. His meticulous research and deep understanding of Pitrè’s oeuvre ensure that the exhibition honours the artist’s legacy while presenting it in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences. The Embassy wishes to extend its formal appreciation to Mr Pierre Bugeja for his distinguished contribution in the field of artistic conservation, whose professional expertise ensured the highest standards of care and preservation of Pitré’s works throughout the preparation of the exhibition. Special thanks also to Cinzia Grech and Daniele Pitre for their generous support in making the family collection accessible for this exhibition.

This initiative has been made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta, through the support of the Cultural Diplomacy Fund, Arts Council Malta, Curated M, PrevArti, Mr Lionel Cassola, and the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage.

Exhibition Location: Museo Hendrik Christian Andersen (Rome) Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, 20, 00196 Rome, Italy

Timeframe: 25 July-22^nd September

09:30:00-19:30

About Ray Pitrè

Ray Pitrè (1940–2024) was a Maltese artist whose practice spanned drawing, painting, sculpture, assemblage and writing. Known for his exploration of the human condition and his pioneering use of found materials, he became one of Malta’s most distinctive artistic voices. His work is held in national and international collections, and in 2000 he was awarded the Member of the National Order of Merit (M.O.M.) for his contribution to the arts.For more information, please contact:

Embassy of the Republic of Malta to Italy Rome, Italy