About
Maxine Attard, born in 1986 in Gozo, Malta is a visual artist working with multiple media and residing in Leipzig, Germany. She is known mostly for her wall-sculptures made of found materials, works on fabric, painting, drawing, and recently writing. Her work stems from her preoccupation with the insignificance of human existence in the face of the sublime.
Maxine Attard uses diverse materials, including aluminium window blinds, building debris, and a jacket found on a beach in Malta, possibly belonging to an immigrant arriving by boat. She cuts these materials and found objects in equally sized pieces and pours building debris in a grid arrangement on a flat surface, making wall-sculptures or objects that are abstract and untitled. Abstract and untitled works are also what she makes when sewing beads into paper and fabric, and when painting with acrylic on wood.
Through the repetition of mark-making, the order of geometry, and the typically minimal palette of colours and compositions, Maxine Attard tackles the void, the nothing, and the constant search for meaning, putting both the outer and inner chaos of life into a kind of order. She has recently done this with writing, a new medium which she has used for the first time in her solo show Before the work, there’s “I” at Valletta Contemporary in Malta.
The materials and techniques Maxine Attard uses to make her objects, as well as the purpose behind her writing, are always gradually evolving. One work leads to the next. Though not immediately apparent, she also uses galleries and other spaces to inform her next work, creating artwork and curating projects and exhibitions that are site-specific.
CV
Maxine Attard - CV - english - pdf.
Maxine Attard
Born in Gozo, Malta, 1986.
Lives and works in Leipzig, Germany and Malta.
Education:
2010-2011: Masters in Fine Arts, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
2005-2008: Bachelor of Arts (Hons), History of Art, University of Malta, Malta
Selected Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions:
2023-2024 Before the work, there’s “I”, Valletta Contemporary, Valletta, Malta
2022 Jekk m'intix thossha, ieqaf! If you are not feeling it, stop!, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Leipzig, Germany
2017 In Between Obliterations, Gabriel Caruana Foundation, Birkirkara, Malta
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 new acquisitions by the Hildebrand collection, G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany
2022 Awol, R Gallery, Sliema, Malta
2021 We are not sure if the show will still be open tomorrow, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Leipzig, Germany
2019 Afterminimalism, Valletta Contemporary, Valletta, Malta
2018 Here & Now 01, Valletta Contemporary, Valletta, Malta
2016 Bodyless, Maritime Museum, Birgu, Malta
2015 No Food’s Land, Mediterranea 17, Young Artists Biennale, Milan, Italy
Divergent Thinkers, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta
2013 DUKEOFEDINBURGHHOTEL Room 36, Sentinella, Citadel, Gozo, Malta
2012 Religionis Violenta, London West Bank Gallery, London, United Kingdom
iconoKLASTI, Gozo, Malta
2011 Down to the Essentials, Riverside Gallery, Richmond, London
Enabling Excessive Restricting Essential, Grand Parade, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
Art Fairs:
2022 Art Cologne, represented by Galerie Jochen Hempel, Cologne, Germany
Collections:
Hildebrand Collection, Leipzig, Germany
Maxine Attard is collected by various private collectors in Malta, France, Germany and United Kingdom.
Grants:
2020 Denkzeit Stipendium, Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen, State of Saxony, Germany
Public Commissions:
2016 Inhabit, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta, Malta
2012 Resting Place, Nadur Parish Church, Gozo, Malta
Selected Bibliography:
Franz Hempel, VC005. Malta : Valletta Contemporary, 2024 [future publication]
Francesca Mangion, VC002. Malta : Valletta Contemporary, 2020
Isaac Azzopardi, VC001. Malta : Valletta Contemporary, 2019.
Zandegù (ed.), No Food’s Land. Italy, 2015.
Selected Press:
Ann Dingli, “Valletta Contemporary Artist interview:Maxine Attard” in vallettacontemporary (2024) at [https://www.vallettacontemporary.com/interviewmaxineattard] consulted on 4 July, 2024
The above interview can be read in full here: Artist Interview in FULL
Lara Zammit, “Artists need to be allowed the time to make art happen” in The Sunday Times of Malta, (2024).
Ann Dingli, “Maxine Attard discusses process, perception, and authenticity in contemporary art-making” in I think I like it, (2018) at [https://www.think-like-it.com/single-post/2018/03/30/ interview-maxine-attard-discusses-process-perception-and-authenticity-in-contemporary-art] consulted on 24 June, 2024
Teodor Reljic, “Watching the Destruction Unfold'' in MaltaToday, (2018).
Eve Cocks, “In Between Obliterations” in evecocks.com, (2018) at [https://evecocks.com/in-between-obliterations/] consulted on 24 June 2024
Karin Grech, “Maxine Attard - In Between Obliterations” in bwiseaftertheevent (2018), at [https://bwiseaftertheevent.wixsite.com/aftertheevent/single-post/2018/02/27/maxine-attard-contemporary-artist-exhibition-in-between-obliterations] consulted on 24 June, 2024
Lisa Gwen, “The Art is in your Face” in Encore Arts and Culture Magazine, (2016).
Charlene Vella, “Inhabiting the Uninhabitable” in Escape in The Sunday Times of Malta, (2016).
Professional contributions:
2012-2014 Assistant Lecturer, Malta College of Art, Science and Technology (Mcast), Mosta, Malta
Dealer Directory (represented by):
Galerie Jochen Hempel
Spinnereistraße 7, 04179 Leipzig, Germany
https://jochenhempel.com / info@jochenhempel.com
Maxine Attard uses diverse materials, including aluminium window blinds, building debris, and a jacket found on a beach in Malta, possibly belonging to an immigrant arriving by boat. She cuts these materials and found objects in equally sized pieces and pours building debris in a grid arrangement on a flat surface, making wall-sculptures or objects that are abstract and untitled. Abstract and untitled works are also what she makes when sewing beads into paper and fabric, and when painting with acrylic on wood.
Through the repetition of mark-making, the order of geometry, and the typically minimal palette of colours and compositions, Maxine Attard tackles the void, the nothing, and the constant search for meaning, putting both the outer and inner chaos of life into a kind of order. She has recently done this with writing, a new medium which she has used for the first time in her solo show Before the work, there’s “I” at Valletta Contemporary in Malta.
The materials and techniques Maxine Attard uses to make her objects, as well as the purpose behind her writing, are always gradually evolving. One work leads to the next. Though not immediately apparent, she also uses galleries and other spaces to inform her next work, creating artwork and curating projects and exhibitions that are site-specific.
CV
Maxine Attard - CV - english - pdf.
Maxine Attard
Born in Gozo, Malta, 1986.
Lives and works in Leipzig, Germany and Malta.
Education:
2010-2011: Masters in Fine Arts, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
2005-2008: Bachelor of Arts (Hons), History of Art, University of Malta, Malta
Selected Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions:
2023-2024 Before the work, there’s “I”, Valletta Contemporary, Valletta, Malta
2022 Jekk m'intix thossha, ieqaf! If you are not feeling it, stop!, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Leipzig, Germany
2017 In Between Obliterations, Gabriel Caruana Foundation, Birkirkara, Malta
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 new acquisitions by the Hildebrand collection, G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany
2022 Awol, R Gallery, Sliema, Malta
2021 We are not sure if the show will still be open tomorrow, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Leipzig, Germany
2019 Afterminimalism, Valletta Contemporary, Valletta, Malta
2018 Here & Now 01, Valletta Contemporary, Valletta, Malta
2016 Bodyless, Maritime Museum, Birgu, Malta
2015 No Food’s Land, Mediterranea 17, Young Artists Biennale, Milan, Italy
Divergent Thinkers, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta
2013 DUKEOFEDINBURGHHOTEL Room 36, Sentinella, Citadel, Gozo, Malta
2012 Religionis Violenta, London West Bank Gallery, London, United Kingdom
iconoKLASTI, Gozo, Malta
2011 Down to the Essentials, Riverside Gallery, Richmond, London
Enabling Excessive Restricting Essential, Grand Parade, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
Art Fairs:
2022 Art Cologne, represented by Galerie Jochen Hempel, Cologne, Germany
Collections:
Hildebrand Collection, Leipzig, Germany
Maxine Attard is collected by various private collectors in Malta, France, Germany and United Kingdom.
Grants:
2020 Denkzeit Stipendium, Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen, State of Saxony, Germany
Public Commissions:
2016 Inhabit, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta, Malta
2012 Resting Place, Nadur Parish Church, Gozo, Malta
Selected Bibliography:
Franz Hempel, VC005. Malta : Valletta Contemporary, 2024 [future publication]
Francesca Mangion, VC002. Malta : Valletta Contemporary, 2020
Isaac Azzopardi, VC001. Malta : Valletta Contemporary, 2019.
Zandegù (ed.), No Food’s Land. Italy, 2015.
Selected Press:
Ann Dingli, “Valletta Contemporary Artist interview:Maxine Attard” in vallettacontemporary (2024) at [https://www.vallettacontemporary.com/interviewmaxineattard] consulted on 4 July, 2024
The above interview can be read in full here: Artist Interview in FULL
Lara Zammit, “Artists need to be allowed the time to make art happen” in The Sunday Times of Malta, (2024).
Ann Dingli, “Maxine Attard discusses process, perception, and authenticity in contemporary art-making” in I think I like it, (2018) at [https://www.think-like-it.com/single-post/2018/03/30/ interview-maxine-attard-discusses-process-perception-and-authenticity-in-contemporary-art] consulted on 24 June, 2024
Teodor Reljic, “Watching the Destruction Unfold'' in MaltaToday, (2018).
Eve Cocks, “In Between Obliterations” in evecocks.com, (2018) at [https://evecocks.com/in-between-obliterations/] consulted on 24 June 2024
Karin Grech, “Maxine Attard - In Between Obliterations” in bwiseaftertheevent (2018), at [https://bwiseaftertheevent.wixsite.com/aftertheevent/single-post/2018/02/27/maxine-attard-contemporary-artist-exhibition-in-between-obliterations] consulted on 24 June, 2024
Lisa Gwen, “The Art is in your Face” in Encore Arts and Culture Magazine, (2016).
Charlene Vella, “Inhabiting the Uninhabitable” in Escape in The Sunday Times of Malta, (2016).
Professional contributions:
2012-2014 Assistant Lecturer, Malta College of Art, Science and Technology (Mcast), Mosta, Malta
Dealer Directory (represented by):
Galerie Jochen Hempel
Spinnereistraße 7, 04179 Leipzig, Germany
https://jochenhempel.com / info@jochenhempel.com
