About
Born in Malta in 1959, he studied ceramics in the late seventies obtaining a distinction diploma from Tarġa Gap School for Craftsmen.
After almost ten years working in the ceramic industry, he was entrusted with the ceramic studios at Tarġa Gap, his old art school. Since the early eighties, he exhibited in a significant number of national and international juried exhibitions, drawing the attention of art critics and collectors . All along he also worked intensely in the theater both as an actor and as a designer. He designed sets, costumes & props for major productions by playwrights as diverse as Aristophanes, Moliere, Neil Simon and Peter Shaffer.
In 1995, he was awarded the Commonwealth Foundation Fellowship in Art and Crafts, which he pursued later as a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for the Arts, Hobart, University of Tasmania. While in Australia, he attended the international ceramic Clay Sculpt Symposium at Gulgong.
He moved to Tåsinge in Denmark in 2002 where he now lives and work. Tony was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant in 2015 and two
Malta Arts Council Grants in 2016 and in 2018 for his ceramic sculptures.
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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS :
2023 - 2nd International Vasyl Krychevsky Biennale of Art Ceramics , National Museum, Opishne, Ukraine
2022 - Signature 18 Art Collective, Obelisk Gallery, Balzan, Malta.
2022 - Kunst og Kirker, Helligånds Kirken, Slagelse, Denmark
2021 - Ceramics in Love- Mostra della Ceramica - Castellamonte, Turin, Italy. 2021 - Anthropos - ArtHall, Gozo, Malta.
2020 - Stensikkert - Galleri Nørballe - Middelfart, Denmark. 2020 - Concorso Ceramica Contemporanea - Grottaglie (Ta) Puglia, Italy.
2020 - The 9th China Changchun International Ceramics Symposium, China.
2019 - The International Cluj Ceramics Biennale, Romania.
2019 - Sydfynske Kunstnere SAK, Svendborg, Denmark.
2018 - European Ceramic Context, Bornholm, Denmark.
2018 - Arita International Ceramic Competition, Japan.
2017 - Hillerød Kunstorening Kunsthuset Annaborg, Hillerød, Denmark.
2015 - Kunsthåndvæk på Haven, Haderslev, Denmark.
2011 - Claymax 2, Kunstbygningen Filosoffen, Odense, Denmark.
2001 - In-Nativita, St James Cavalier Centre For Creativity, Valletta, Malta.
1997 - 5th World Triennale Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Croatia.
1994 - XIV Biennale Internationale de Ceramique D`Art, Chateau Musee, Vallauris, France.
1994 - International Orton Box Show, Baker University, Kansas, USA.
1990 - Contemporary Maltese Ceramics, New Gallery, Auberge de Provence, Valletta, Malta.
1988 - Mostra Internazionale D`Arte, Museo del Risorgimento, Rome, Italy.
1985 - Wirja Bla Isem, The Loggia, Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta
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PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Changchun International Ceramics Gallery, Changchun, China.
Museo della Ceramica di Grottaglie, Puglia, Italy.
Cluj-Napoca art Museum, Romania.
Heritage Malta, Valletta, Malta.
Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta.
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STATEMENT
While attempting to make sculptures,
I try to follow this checklist:
These must challenge gravity,
occupy merited space,
resonate with colour,
own movement,
tell an untold narrative
and contain a dose of surprise & humour
BUT must be restrained and understated.
I am sure I have not reached my goal yet…….
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CONTACT
Address : Bjerrebyvej 85, 5700 Svendborg Denmark.
Mobile : +45 24421467 email : tony@gallerisissi.dk
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Links:
https://artzid.com/members/tonybriffadk/profile/
https://www.mariegallery5.com/artists/45-tony-briffa/
https://arthallgozo.com/tony-briffa/
https://www.gallerierasmus.dk/tony-briffa/
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