Antony Micallef is seen as one of Britain’s most electrifying young painters and has exhibited throughout the world from L.A, Tokyo to
Palestine. As well as exhibiting at the National Portrait Gallery recent
group shows include the Royal Academy, Burlington Gardens and a print
show at the Tate Britain.
His first breakthrough came when he won second prize in the BP Portrait Award
in 2000. He was spotted around that time by Steve Lazarides, who tells me
that he was attracted by “that deep well of darkness that’s in everything
Antony does, but married to this colourful pop sensibility”.
Micallef says much of his inspiration comes from his urban surroundings. “The
other day, I went down into the tube at Bond Street, and on the escalator,
there was this sudden, overwhelming aroma of fast food. Then, as I walked
further down, it mixed in with this hot nail-varnish smell. It was
repulsive, but then suddenly I thought: 'That’s exactly the atmosphere I
want in my paintings’.
Micallef has been selling to an A-list clientele, including Brad Pitt,
Angelina Jolie and Jude Law who have paid up to £30,000 for his paintings.
