The exhibition Urban Wildlife is a collaborative exhibition featuring approximately 40 risograph illustrations accompanied by information about the species depicted, current challenges, and suggestions for improving their conditions. It is on view at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta from 26 November to 19 December 2026.
Urban Wildlife is organised by Michelle Gruppetta and curated by Iella (alias for Daniela Attard), and brings together the creative efforts of Amy Muscat, Antonia Gatt, Fleur Franklin, iella, KLONN, Kriss Zammit Endrich, Michelle Gruppetta, Luca Pisani, Ruth Ancilleri and Steffi Venturi. The artists highlight how art has been crucial in the development of public discourse concerning environmental issues, which has in turn stimulated scientific inquiry and discovery. Gruppetta notes that "Today, an ever-increasing number of climate communicators recognise this relationship and are therefore turning to art as a way of raising awareness around the defining issue of our time: climate change."
When facts are not enough
Born out of a desire to engage the public and encourage action, the exhibition is also a response to the perceived failure of facts to sway the general public into demanding and enacting the change we need: "In a world of ever-growing data and information availability, it is clear that facts alone are not enough, it's also about how you communicate them."
Urban Wildlife tries to bring nature closer to the public by using art to showcase how local flora and fauna are being affected by climate change and weak policies. The artists' collective also seeks to focus attention on local conservation efforts, and on the public's capacity to safeguard nature.
A medium that fits the message
The exhibition also provided an opportunity for the participating artists to train in the technique of risograph printing, a technique that is rarely practised locally. The team was drawn to risograph printing as a "really eye-catching" medium for their environmental activist message. Moreover, the medium is fitting for its sustainability. Gruppetta says: "We chose this eco-friendlier printing method to lessen our environmental impact as artists. The process is more sustainable by design, using minimal electricity and eco-friendly soy-based inks, which contrasts sharply with the high-energy demands and less sustainable inks of traditional printers."
The exhibition aims, in Gruppetta's words, to "create a space that nurtures ecological imagination through the dialogue between art and research," while situating it in relation to the specific context of the Maltese islands. The artists' ultimate intention is to "empower the public with actionable efforts." Gruppetta says that they aim to draw attention to "what we risk losing – not as some nebulous concept, but in the real and concrete here and now of climate change." Their goal is to contribute to climate activism by creatively sparking "conversation and action regarding Malta's environmental future and our broader environmental landscape." The artists believe that the "creative and transformative power of art" can play a part in raising awareness, inspiring empathy, promoting dialogue, instigating behavioural change, and envisioning alternative futures.
Imperfect activism
Gruppetta says that despite all this, they are not trying to be "perfect activists"; rather, they embrace "imperfect activism", which allows for "making mistakes, learning, failing and growing," encouraging anyone with eco-anxiety (that should be all of us) to "turn their worries into action." The exhibition thus seeks to motivate the fight against climate change by showing people that they are not powerless and that "what we have is worth fighting for on a local level."
Iella describes their collaborative journey, which mirrors this acceptance of an "imperfect" process: "We bounced ideas around and did a lot of problem-solving as things can go wrong or get delayed at any moment." Collaboration is key to the project and shows what can be achieved when we work together. KLONN says: "Participating in Urban Wildlife offered a unique opportunity for me to highlight and bring awareness to the gradual biodiversity collapse taking place in the Maltese islands as a direct result of overdevelopment. Meeting and collaborating with Michelle, and especially this group of participating artists, is proof that collective resistance through such projects can connect different artistic communities to amplify these crucial messages."
Gruppetta explains: "Climate change isn't just about emissions, it's about culture. It's about the way we think, act, and relate to one another and the planet. It is very difficult to want to protect and conserve a vague 'nature'. By making it personal, by showing people what Malta stands to lose on a specific species level, we hope to draw more awareness that everything counts." Accordingly, the exhibition also incorporates an educational dimension, including an activity sheet for children to engage with the artworks.
Prints that give back
The artists will be donating 50% of the proceeds from sales of the prints to the local environmental NGOs involved: BirdLife Malta, NatureTrust Malta and Żibel. This exhibition was made possible via support by Arts Council Malta, local NGOs, APS Bank, and Stretta.
The President of the MSA, Dr Joe Borg, comments: "The MSA is not a space apart – it is very much in the world and embedded within our local environment, as this exhibition underlines. Ecological issues concern all of us; the artists coming together and collaborating on this exhibition engage with such urgent issues through their art and show that art has a part to play in advocating for change."
Practical information
- Dates: 26 November – 19 December 2026
- Official opening: Thursday 26 November, 7pm
- Venue: Art Galleries, Malta Society of Arts, Palazzo de La Salle, 219 Republic Street, Valletta
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 7pm; Saturday 9am – 1pm
- Admission: Free
- More information: artsmalta.org and facebook.com/maltasocietyofarts
