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Joe Xuereb was born on 26th June 1954 and
lives in Ghajnsielem, the first village the visitor
meets after landing in Mgarr harbour. He studied art at
the Gozo Lyceum but his career really launched itself
off in the 1970's, after working and studying under the
tutelage of the late British archaeologist Marie
Claridge, then active at her 'Gozo 20' studio on the
outskirts of Ghajnsielem. He discovered his artistic
inspiration in Neolithic sculpture, a field rarely
exploited by other local artists and over the years,
though his message has cut across universal boundaries,
has made his reputation by specializing in this type of
art. Xuereb's art is, therefore, closely linked with the
prehistoric past of Gozo, a small island with its own
distinctive character, going back to Neolithic times.
His medium, the soft globigerina limestone of Gozo, is
highly adapted to his working technique, using
traditional tools inherited from his father, a
traditional stone mason in his younger days. |
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Joe Xuereb is married to Miriam and is the proud father of Lorna
and Klara. In the seventies he was one of the leading lights of
his village's Cultural Society, then a dynamic force in Gozo
cultural circles.
He has made his name known beyond the confines of Malta and has
had numerous exhibitions throughout Europe, where he has
exhibited in the Dutch university city of Groningen, Paris,
Berlin and other major German cities as well as mounting a
path-breaking show at the Lincoln Centre in New York. Since
1998, his work has been permanently on display at 'SOL'
Sculpture Gallery of Siena, Italy and has also executed some
large pieces for the Chianti Sculpture Park located in the
Tuscany region.
In 1992, the Dutch magazine "Woonbeeld' has featured prominently
Joe's work following his first personal exhibition outside his
homeland. In 1999, his work was selected and given extensive
coverage in the CNN programme 'ArtClub' that dealt about Maltese
art. Today he runs his own Sculpture Gallery which has already
been visited by clients coming from over 70 countries. His works
are found in private collections ranging from Germany, France,
Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, United Kingdom, South
Africa, and Australia to Florida, California , Minnesota in the
U.S.A.
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