MICAS inaugurates Milton Avery exhibition
Exhibition Opening | MICAS
An unprecedented exhibition for Malta: Colour, Form and Composition opens with 58 works from Milton Avery and seven contemporary artists
The Malta International Contemporary Art Space has inaugurated the exhibition Colour, Form and Composition: Milton Avery and his Enduring Influence on Contemporary Painting – a stunning survey of over 30 works of master American colourist Milton Avery (1885-1965).
These impressive artworks – the second ever European showing of its kind – hang alongside another 28 artworks from contemporary artists who credit him as an influence: Henni Alftan (Finnish), Milton’s daughter March Avery (American), Harold Ancart (Belgian), Andrew Cranston (Scottish), Gary Hume (British), Nicolas Party (Swiss) and Jonas Wood (American).
The exhibition was formally opened by MICAS executive chairperson Phyllis Muscat, who also marked the first-year anniversary since the official inauguration of Malta Contemporary.
“Milton Avery’s arrival at MICAS is both a milestone and a mission fulfilled for us. This exhibition represents one of the most comprehensive presentations of Avery’s work ever seen in Europe – an unprecedented event for Malta, and a proud moment for MICAS as we continue our commitment to presenting contemporary art of global significance,” Muscat said.
Muscat said that while each exhibition hosted at MICAS so far has bridged the international world of art to Malta, the Milton Avery exhibition was a historic showcase, accompanied as it is by the works of seven other contemporary artists, some of which were specifically created for this exhibition.
“Seasoned art connoisseurs and curious newcomers will experience an extraordinary collection, the second only such European showcase, here at MICAS. I am sure people’s senses will be stirred by the galleries, awash with the colour of Avery and the artists who kindly accepted our invitation to grace us with their work,” Muscat said,
The Milton Avery exhibition was made possible thanks to generous loans from the Milton Avery Trust, as well as the seven participating artists, with additional sponsorship from the Sally and Milton Avery Trust, Waqas Wajahat, Karma Gallery New York and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels; along with the continued support of the Maltese Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government.
This is the third exhibition in the main MICAS gallery spaces, and the sixth of displays since opening exactly a year ago.
Artistic Director and exhibition curator Edith Devaney celebrated the high standard MICAS had set itself, ensuring that each exhibition staged is of a calibre and significance to match any museum globally.
“In accordance with our clear remit, this is a truly international exhibition. Not just in the sense of the artists involved hailing from the United States and across several countries in Europe, but international in terms of its worldwide significance in exploring new ground and in playing a part in the global conversation about the history of art and contributing to the constant reappraisal of the art of the past and its impact on contemporary practice.”
Milton Avery is a hugely significant figure in the United States, with his work residing in the collections of most of the country’s major museums. He is today recognised for having influenced the next generation of painters who would go on to form the celebrated movement Abstract Expressionism in the 1950s, and which saw the centre of the arts move from Paris to New York for the first time.
“Here, in this exhibition we make the argument that Avery’s works continues to exert an influence 60 years after his death, and that the celebrated artists whose work sits alongside Avery’s have all been inspired to respond to his achievement by creating new work or selecting existing work to be in direct dialogue with Avery. These visual conversations are meaningful, and revelatory.”
The exhibition was also attended by artists Henni Alftan, Harold Ancart, Andrew Cranston and Gary Hume, as well as Milton Avery’s grandson, and son of March Avery, Sean Cavanaugh, also an artist.
“The team at MICAS under the leadership and inspiration of Phyllis Muscat achieves extraordinary things, and we are grateful to all who made this exhibition happen,” Devaney said, who also announced the Milton Avery catalogue published by world-leading publishers Skira Editore, on sale only at MICAS.
Colour, Form and Composition: Milton Avery and his Enduring Influence on Contemporary Painting
MICAS
From 25 October 2025, to 4 March 2026
Curated by Edith Devaney
Exhibition design by Cécile Degos
