From an early age, I was captivated by the way art can tell stories that transcend time and place. That curiosity grew into a vocation: today, I am Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Malta, where I lecture and research on Medieval, Renaissance, and Mediterranean art, with a particular focus on the cultural networks that shaped Malta’s artistic identity. My journey reflects both a love of learning and a belief in opening doors for others.
As both an educator and scholar, I believe that teaching art history is more than analysing artworks: it is about uncovering how art reflects wider histories of power and faith, and inspiring my students to find fresh relevance in the past.
I am honoured to be the first female full-time academic in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta, a milestone for both my career and our family. My greatest privilege is mentoring a new generation of art historians, witnessing my students find their own voices both in Malta and internationally, and expanding horizons through education.
Throughout this journey, my two young sons, aged eight and six, have been invaluable for balancing work and family, which has both challenged and shaped me. My husband, who is also an academic, shares my love for pursuing research and travelling.
My academic path began in Malta, expanded at the University of Warwick (UK), and thrived through international collaborations, most notably with Professor Donal Cooper (now at Cambridge). By presenting research across Europe and America, contributing to conversations on Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture, and engaging in technical art history and digital humanities, I continue to share and deepen Malta’s role as a cultural crossroads.
Beyond academia, over the past three years, I have curated exhibitions at the Palm Court Lounge at The Phoenicia Malta and collaborated with national institutions, creating opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with Maltese culture. I am the curator of “LOOK AT ME: Framing the Iconic,” a retrospective exhibition of photographer Lorenzo Agius, open at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta until 2 November.
Receiving Malta’s National Mara (Woman) Award in March 2025 was a humbling recognition. For me, art history is a bridge: between past and present, scholarship and public life, nations and generations. Sharing Malta’s stories globally, learning from my students, and growing alongside my family strengthen the cultural ties that art makes possible.
Prof Charlene Vella
