Curriculum
John Busuttil Leaver (b.1964)
John Busuttil Leaver (born John Robert Busuttil; 1964) is a Maltese visual artist and painter. He worked for many years in book design. He is philosophical about his artistic work and sees what he does as non-commercial: a statement about the contemporary. He points a finger at abusive construction by evidencing what remains of the countryside and heritage. In his solo show “A Diary of Obsessions”, (2008, Saint James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta) he was one of the earliest to display work which commented against over development.
Busuttil Leaver studied at the Malta Government School of art under Harry Alden, and later at The Art and Design Centre, Valletta. He began working as a graphic designer but continued to paint and participate in many collectives. The National Museum of Fine Arts, gave him a one-man showing in 1997. Other one-man shows followed in various galleries and art venues. In 2014 he exhibited work in London.
A number of art critics and curators have covered his work including Nicholas de Piro, Michael J. Schiavone, Emanuel Fiorentino, Dominic Cutajar, Dennis Vella, Adrian Stivala, Raphael Vella and Dr Louis Lagana. The Times of Malta published various articles. He won a number of art competitions and was featured in radio and TV programmes most noteworthy of which was a Canadian TV Cultural programme, 'TV Frames', during their feature on Malta.
100 word version
John Busuttil Leaver (b. 1964) is an artist painter. He is philosophical in his work and sees what he does as non-commercial: a comment about the contemporary. He points a finger at overdevelopment by evidencing what remains of the countryside and heritage.
Busuttil Leaver studied at the Malta Government School of Art under Harry Alden, and later at The Art and Design Centre, Valletta. The National Museum of Fine Arts, gave him a one-man showing in 1997. Since then he had other one-man shows and collectives and in 2014 he exhibited work in a London gallery.
John Busuttil Leaver (born John Robert Busuttil; 1964-)
Tel: (0356) 21410971 Mob: (0356) 79410972
Education
Government School of Art, Valletta, Malta 1979-81 O & A level studies
Art & Design Centre, Valletta, Malta 1982-1984 Certificate in Design
Solo Exhibitions (Large)
‘Circles’ Auberge de Provence, Valletta, Malta, Nov 1988
‘Painting’ New Gallery, National Museum of Archaeology, Malta, Dec 1991
‘Majjistral’ National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta 1997
‘Manscapes’ The Labyrinth Art Gallery’ Valletta, Malta 1999
“Woman” Le Meridian Phoenicia , Floriana, Malta 2002
“BLU” VGB Art Gallery. Valletta, Malta 2002
“GREEN” VGB Art Gallery. Valletta, Malta 2004
“RETRO-04” Cleland & Souchet, Portomaso 2004
“Unseen Selections” Corinthia Palace Hotel, San Anton 2004
“A Diary of Obsessions” St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta, 2008
'Rock Face', Camden Image Gallery, London, 2014
'Rock Face', Palazzo De Piro, Mdina, 201
'Open Studio', Artist's Studio, Naxxar, 2016
'Open Studio - The Dance of Art', Artist's Studio, Naxxar, 2017
Solo Exhibitions (Small)
‘Summer’ Café Rikard, Sliema, 1988
‘Doors’ Malta International Airport, Malta 1992
‘Doors’ Boqqa Café, Rabat, 1997
‘Leaver Art’ Personal Stand Antiques & Fine Arts Fair, Malta International Trade Fair, 1997
‘Triptich Painting’ San Andrea School, Foyer. 1998-
Group Exhibitions
Maltafest, National Arts Festival, Valletta, Malta 1984/87/88/89/90/96/97
Lion's Club Art Collective, National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta 1987/93
Industrial Design Competition Exhibition (PL Light fitting), National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, Malta 1986
Maltese German Circle, Valletta, Malta 1987
Chamber of Commerce, Valletta, Malta 1988
Arti Independenza, National Gallery of Fine Arts, Valletta Malta 1989
Muzikafest Art, (NSTF), Malta University 1989
Solidarity with Poland Art Show, MUT Premises, Valletta Malta 1989
Din L-Art Helwa, Malta National Trust Art Show, Naxxar 1990/91
MAS Charity Collective, Chamber of Commerce, 1991
Permatex Art Show, Royal British Legion, Valetta, Malta 1992
Association of Maltese Artists, Palazzo De La Salle, Valletta, Malta 1992
Teacher's Whiskey Art Award Finalist's Show National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta -1992/93/95
Cathedral Museum Collective Contemporary Art Show, Mdina 1994/5/6
"Kreativa", Finalist Collective Show (Institute of Visual Arts), National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta 1996
Mithna ta’ Ganu Arts Centre, Birkirkara, Malta. 1996
Contemporary Christian Art in Malta, Cathedral Museum, Mdina 1996
Eden Foundation Art Charity Show, Gozo, 1997/98
SEDQA – Art, Substance of Life, University Campus April 2000
First National Art Competition 2002 – Trade Fair Grounds Naxxar –November 2002
Millennium Chapel Foundation , Group Charity show – Hilton Malta , November 2003
De La Salle Brothers Centenary Show, - Palazzo De La Salle, Valletta, 2003
Girgenti open day collective - Palazz ta l-Inquizitur, Girgenti 2006
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar Christmas Collective – Casino Maltese, Valletta, 2008
Birgu Art Collective – Maritime Museum, Birgu, 2009
Camden Image centre, London, UK, April 2014
Fine Arts Auction, The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, 18 Nov 2017
'Maltese Artists Auction in aid of The Word Meditation Garden', 13 April, The Westin Dragonara St. Julian's, 2018
Awards
First Prize for painting 1995 Teacher's Whiskey Art Awards
National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta.
Third prize for Poster Design in the IFSTS International
Poster Award, Spain 1985
First prize for Poster Design Competition to illustrate, “Dance Power”
a Show by the Dance Council – Malta, Valletta, 2000
Radio & TV Appearances
Radio Show “Kuluri”, Radiu tal-Mediterranean , April 1997.
TV documentary “Min hu l’Artist Malti?” super 1, November 199
National TV cultural programme “Meander” PBS, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2008 & 2015
Canadian TV Cultural Programme “TV FRAMES”, October 1999 (aired in North America)
Bibliography and References
Malta International Arts Festival “Maltafest”
Exhibition Catalogues: 1984/87/88/89/90/96/97
Nicholas de Piro , “Artists who painted Malta”
Said International Ltd. Malta, 1988. ISBN: 1 871684 00 5, Page 41
Dominic Cutajar, “Leaver Paintings”
Exhibition Catalogue, 1988
E. Fiorentino, “Feelers of the mind”
The Sunday Times, 27 November 1988
Denis Vella, “Questing Spirit”
The Times, 30 November 1988
Adrian Stivala, “Intimate Art”
The Weekend Chronicle, 18 December 1988
Adrian Stivala, “Scenes from everyday life”
The Times, 21 December 1991
Lara Stickland, “An Exhibition of Interiors”
The Times, 21 December 1991
E. Fiorentino, “Trying new possibilities”
The Sunday Times, December 1991
“Contemporary Christian Art in Malta”,
Cathedral Museum Publications, Malta, 1996
ISBN: 99909-51-06-3, Page 45, 103
E. Fiorentino, “Majjistral experienced in a Gregale”
The Sunday Times, 23 March 1997
Dominic Cutajar, “Leaver: Majjistral”
Exhibition Catalogue, 1997
Toni Grimaud “The Creative Malta Directory”
Publisher Toni Grimaud, Malta, 1998
Raphael Vella, “The humanness of stone”
The Malta Independent, 30 May 1999
E. Fiorentino, “Manscapes at the Labyrinth”
The Sunday Times, 6 June 1999
Nicholas de Piro , “Artists who painted Malta” Second Edition
Said International Ltd. Malta, 2002. ISBN: 99932-646-0-1, Page 74
Daniela Vella, The Last Word
The Times Weekender, 18 May 2002
E. Fiorentino, “The cloths of Heaven”
The Sunday Times, 24 November 2002
Jon Rosser, Village People
The Times - Showtime, 7 November 2003
Michael J. Schiavone , “Dictionary of Maltese Biographies”
Pubblikazzjonijet Indipendenza. Malta, 2009. ISBN: 978-99932-91-32-9, Page 364-365
Louis Lagana, “A Pied Piper's Diary of Obsessions,”
Grip Magazine, Malta 2009
Publications
John Busuttil Leaver “Cassar’s art by computer”
The Times, 4/11/86
John Busuttil Leaver “Malta through the eyes of a French photographer”
The Times, 20/11/86
John Busuttil Leaver “Langlois – A life in Art”
The Times, 7/6/87
John Busuttil Leaver “Art in Malta today”
The Times, 28/6/87
John Busuttil Leaver “Pitre’s Baroque Variations”
The Times, 16/10/87
John Busuttil Leaver “Andrew Diacono’s “Clay People”
The Times, 7/1/88
John Busuttil Leaver “Four distinct paths in one exhibition”
The Times, 3/11/89
John Busuttil Leaver “Twin search for esoteric language”
The Times, 22/12/89
John Busuttil Leaver “An Arts Centre or a Contemporary Art Museum?”
The Malta Independent, 9/3/97
John Busuttil Leaver “Art & Superman Politics”
The Malta Independent, 10/5/98
John Busuttil Leaver “Business in art is business, but the business of art is not business”
The Malta Independent, 11/10/98
John Busuttil Leaver “The State of the Art”
The Malta Independent, 7/3/99
John Busuttil Leaver “Sex, Spirituality and loss in Mediterranean Art”
The Malta Independent, 1/8/99
Rock face: Exhibition Catalogue – 2014 , John Busuttil Leaver (Author), Dr Louis Lagana (Introduction), CreateSpace, ISBN 1499549660