Curated by Lara Bugeja, this collection of acrylic paintings pays homage to the beauty, movement, and emotion of the Mediterranean Sea, the artist’s ever-present muse.

Inspired by Malta’s limpid waters, Vella captures the play of light and colour that defines our long summer days by the sea. Through her expressive brushwork, she portrays the shimmering reflections of glowing sunsets, the gentle dance of sailboats, playful ducks gliding across calm waters, and the convivial atmosphere of seaside feasts. Each piece is a celebration of Maltese identity and the timeless connection between islanders and the surrounding sea.

For Vella, the sea is a vital part of who she is. “This collection is an intimate exploration of my technical interest in the shapes and colours of water and summer days spent by the sea,” she explains. Indeed, BAĦAR invites visitors to slow down and reconnect with the rhythms of island life, offering a vibrant, sensory reflection of Malta’s coastal soul.

This exhibition marks Lara Vella’s fifth solo show and her second time exhibiting at the Malta Postal Museum’s Arts Hub. A graduate of the University of Malta with a degree in Fine Arts and History of Art (2019), Vella recently completed her Master’s degree at the Accademia D’Arte in Florence (2024), where she refined her technique and deepened her exploration of Mediterranean themes.