Beyond The Invisible Painting

Born on April the 15th, 1966, Noel Attard was brought up in an artistic ambience he yearned to live up to. At a young age of ten he started studying art at Savio College. Later he pursued his studies at the Malta Government School of Arts, Valletta, and at Tara Gap School of Art, Malta. Noel later sought to compliment his practical side with theoretical academic studies at the University of Malta where he graduated in History of Art in 2006. From his first participation in a collective output at Bath, England with the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, back in 1998, he never looked back and has participated in a considerable number of collective exhibitions both locally and abroad to this present day. In 2003 he held his first solo exhibition at St. James Cavalier. Always inquisitive in his quest for artistic autonomy and originality in 2007 set up another solo exhibition, this time at the National Blood Transfusion Center, Malta. In 2009 he held his last solo exhibition to date, this time at the Loggia, National Fine Arts Museum, Valletta. During these past six years Noel has been working on his distinctive style that landed him considerable reputation and sales both on the international and especially on the local art market. Together with four other renowned contemporary artists on the island, Noel Attard in 2007 earned what he still considers a benchmark commission when he was asked to embellish the State Council Hall at San Anton Palace, for the President of Malta. Noels art is a tribute to life in general and often shows the emotional state the artist is in when depicting a particular piece of work. His works forms an essential part of his lifestyle and are thus an integral part of his life. Noel Attard chooses to be ascetic in his art and conveys only what is important to grasp the onlookers attention. The subject is depicted against a vigorous background executed in broad brushstrokes, creating a sublime combination of colours which generally result in eloquent hues and tones. Noel also experiments with the science of perspective. Eliminating all corporeal elements in his depictions, he makes his subject look translucent thus creating an illusive focal point in his art works.