The work of Henni Alftan (*1979) stems from a deep engagement with the medium of painting, its methods and its histories, resulting in pictures of daily life that are intimately familiar and yet intriguingly unknowable. Born in Helsinki and based in Paris, the artist depicts everyday scenes and objects, often cropped or otherwise fragmented, each rendered with a studied economy of means. In spite of her pared-down aesthetic, Alftan’s experiments with color, texture, scale and perspective produce canvases rich in layered meanings that double as metaphors for seeing and comprehending the world through the physical properties of paint.
Henni Alftan, Neckline II, 2025
Colour Form and Composition: Milton Avery and his enduring influence on contemporary painting
Group Exhibition
MICAS – Malta International Contemporary Art Space
Through April 4, 2026
MICAS presents a landmark exhibition exploring the enduring influence of American painter Milton Avery (1885–1965) on contemporary art. This exhibition features over 20 paintings and a number of watercolors spanning Avery’s entire career. Illustrating the argument that Milton Avery’s work continues to exert and influence of artists working today, the exhibition also includes works by seven acclaimed contemporary painters—March Avery, Harold Ancart, Andrew Cranston, Henni Alftan, Gary Hume, Nicolas Party, and Jonas Wood—each responding to Avery’s legacy in unique ways. Their contributions, from literal interpretations to more intuitive echoes of Avery’s style and sensibility, reflect the continuing relevance of his work.
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