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Gabriella Lukacs

Our Lady of Pilar Chapel

Gabriella Lukacs is a Malta-based designer and maker celebrated for her dedication to sustainability, craftsmanship, and the preservation of heritage techniques. Her work explores the intersection of fashion, art, and nature, producing one-of-a-kind accessories that combine elegance with thoughtful design. Often created using upcycled materials and traditional methods, Gabriella’s pieces are timeless and poetic, reflecting a deep respect for artisanal heritage while engaging a contemporary audience.

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Jane Birchall

Our Lady of Pilar Chapel

Jane Birchall is a ceramic and visual artist whose work has been exhibited in the UK and the Maltese islands, with permanent pieces on display at the Arthall Gallery. Her creations are part of private collections across Europe, London, the UAE, and the USA. Working primarily in stoneware using traditional hand-building techniques, Jane draws inspiration from the textures, colours, and forms of the Maltese coast. She incorporates natural tools and motifs from traditional Gozo lace and crochet to create textured, eroded surfaces. Her contemporary acrylics on canvas often serve as dynamic backdrops for her ceramic pieces.

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Josef Camilleri

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Josef Camilleri’s passion for music and guitars led him to establish Cross Guitar Works, where he builds and repairs instruments for local bands. A standout project was redesigning and crafting a Harp Guitar used in traditional Għana performances, also known as Tal-Qrun or Tat-Tromba. Based in Qormi, Josef studied the techniques of renowned guitar maker and Għana musician Indri l-Pupa, learning the intricacies of his distinctive instruments. Committed to innovation, Josef updates traditional guitar-building methods, enhancing materials, playability, and sound quality while preserving the instrument’s cultural heritage.

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Janine Cardona

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Janine Cardona holds a B.Ed (Hons) in French and Maltese and studied Art and Design at Advanced level. Her craft journey began in late primary school with parchment and ganutell, eventually evolving into jewellery making. In October 2020, she founded Janine Jewellery, and in 2021 launched her line ‘Ganutell Ġojjell’, inspired by her first submission to the Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti. Exploring ganutell as wearable art, Janine gained recognition locally and internationally, culminating in first prize in the textiles sub-category at the Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti 2023 for her piece ‘Ganutell: A Twist to Tradition’.

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Lara Parker

Our Lady of Pilar Chapel

Lara Parker is a multidisciplinary designer, artist, and artisan whose work spans graphic design, painting, crochet, resin, ceramics, weaving, and bobbin lace. Her creations blend tradition and modernity, inspired by nature, global cultures, and Maltese heritage, infusing storytelling and imagination into every piece. A graduate of the University of Kent at Canterbury, she holds a Master of Arts degree, Postgraduate Diploma, and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Visual Communication. Lara displayed her work at various esteemed exhibitions and galleries. Founder of two advertising agencies, she was nominated for Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2021.

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Marisa Zarb

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Marisa Zarb, a mechanical engineer, turned her unfulfilled artistic passion into Peprin®, a jewellery brand that reconnects her with the creativity of her childhood. Inspired by the small Mediterranean island of Malta, the brand’s name – ‘peprin,’ the Maltese word for poppies – symbolizes resilience, as poppies bloom even in the harshest conditions. Through Peprin®, Marisa channels her femininity, creativity, and perseverance into handcrafted jewellery, crafting pieces that celebrate individuality. Her work reflects a belief that the world thrives when people embrace their unique talents, bloom in adversity, and transform personal expression into tangible, meaningful art.

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Saima Murtaza

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Saima Murtaza is an art enthusiast and Master’s graduate in Fine Arts, specializing in metallic and sustainable art. Her work preserves cultural heritage by transforming traditional craftsmanship into meaningful, handcrafted sculptures and souvenirs. Honouring the hands that pass down artisanal skills, she incorporates sustainable materials and vintage patterns into her distinctive creations. Saima believes the future of art lies in blending heritage with contemporary forms, producing works that are simultaneously timeless and innovative, reflecting a deep commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and the evolution of traditional artistic practices.

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Boryana Chaneva and Silvia Galova

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Boryana Chaneva and Silvia Galova are jewellery designers and silversmiths who, alongside other artists, form The Filigree Connection, a collective dedicated to presenting filigree in a contemporary context while safeguarding its traditional techniques. Boryana draws inspiration from textile crafts such as knitting, crochet, and embroidery, translating their intricate patterns into silver filigree jewellery. Silvia explores traditional metal crafting techniques, pushing their limits in innovative, contemporary designs. Together, their collections, including pieces created for Milan Jewellery Week 2022, blend texture, colour, geometry, and folkloristic influences, making heritage techniques appealing to modern audiences.

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James Dimech

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James Dimech has been professionally involved in design for 30 years, with vast experience ranging from residential to commercial property interior design and architecture. Artistically inclined, he achieved a BA Hons in Design and further specialized in Italy, which led to a successful debut into the world of fashion design, creating garments from recycled and sustainable materials. His work focuses on the incorporation of three-dimensional sculptural forms into fashion, exploring the dialogue between the organic human body and geometric structures handcrafted through paper folding techniques.

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Charles and Dorothy Cordina

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Charles and Dorothy Cordina are husband and wife and are the faces behind Lucentini. Charles takes care of the creation, the art and design of the Lucentini, while Dorothy handles the operation of the business. They both come from a business background, so they thrive to see that their Lucentini succeed. Coming from their cultural upbringing, the love for their heritage background, and business intuition, they take inspiration from what they see around them and what makes them Maltese in order to create the Lucentini.