Enrique Tabone (b. 1987) is a UK-based artist who has established a reputation for her thought-provoking and emotive works that explore the complexities of the human experience. Born and raised on the island of Malta, she grew up surrounded by the rich cultural heritage of her homeland, which deeply influenced her artistic vision and development.
She began her artistic journey as a teenager, developing her practical skills as a designer and visual artist, studying at the newly established Art & Design school within the Malta College of Art, Science, and Technology (MCAST) at Tarġa Gap. She later went on to study at the University of Salford in Manchester, United Kingdom. She has remained in the Greater Manchester area, where she now conducts research and teaches at the Digital Curation Lab situated at MediaCityUK.
Tabone’s work is celebrated for its ability to capture the essence of Maltese culture and history, while also addressing universal themes of identity, tradition, and modernity. Her use of form and light is dynamic, blending the traditional and the contemporary, creating pieces that are both familiar and new. Notable for their emotional depth and technical mastery, Tabone’s works are often admired as evocative and thought- provoking by art critics and audiences alike.
Exhibitions
Her works have appeared at several exhibitions, events, and venues, including the Ostrale Contemporary Art Biennale 2019 in Dresden, Germany, which came soon after her first solo exhibition at The Mill in Birkirkara, Malta, operated by the Gabriel Caruana Foundation. More recently her art has been exhibited in London and Torino after two solo exhibitions in Valletta in 2022 and 2023.
Some of the previous exhibitions of her work were held in Malta at Spazju Kreattiv (2019 and 2020), Palazzo Pereira (2015), BirguFest2014 in collaboration with the Valletta 2018 Foundation, St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (2013); the Earth Garden Festival; the launch of Strada Stretta’s Splendid Lounge (2011), and the Deception collective exhibition at Lascaris Wharf (2010). Other work has been exhibited as part of the 2018 touring exhibition Inspired in China, with venues including the Parliament of Malta Building, SkyParks at Malta International Airport, and the Ministry of Gozo. A short film she co-produced in 2016 with Jenny Mercieca, Wild Flower, was featured at the 3rd Istanbul Design Biennale.
Red Leaf (2013), a metal seating sculpture by the artist, is permanently installed at the Verdala Sculpture Garden in Buskett, the official summer residence of the President of Malta. Her large-scale work Naħla (2017) was included in third edition of VIVA – the Valletta International Visual Arts festival at Spazju Kreattiv; parts of this work now form part of Fondazzjoni Kreattività’s permanent collection, which is a substantial part of the modern and contemporary section of the National Art Collection of Malta. These and other works in private and public collections, cement her reputation as a respected and accomplished artist.
QUE Design Studio
Between 2016 and 2019 Tabone operated the QUE Boutique Shop in Valletta, featuring her limited-edition wearable art and home products made mainly from plexiglass. These unique custom designs have been displayed in various international publications (including British Vogue and Vogue Italia), shows and events in Malta, the UK, the Netherlands, Turkey and Poland. They remain available from a choice of art gallery shops in Malta and the UK, as well as online through the Questijl.com website.
As the artist is still in the full swing of her creative practice, she continues to push the boundaries of her medium and is always exploring new ways to express herself and connect with her audiences. Her work reflects her deep connection to her Maltese heritage and her ongoing quest to understand life beyond national identities.