Etienne Farrell’s Fallen Angel II fetches €35,000 at auction in aid of charity

Maltese multimedia artist Etienne Farrell has reached a remarkable milestone after her artwork Fallen Angel II sold for €35,000 at the recent SiGMA Euro-Med Charity Auction.

Sharing her reaction on social media, she wrote: “It sold for €35,000, my Fallen Angel II. This photo was taken at the beginning of the evening. I was looking much happier towards the end.”

A tribute through art

The piece forms part of a three-part series created in memory of her late colleague, artist Mark Mallia. Ms Farrell tells MaltaCEOs.mt that Mr Mallia often referred to himself as a fallen angel, which became the inspiration for the title and theme of the works.

“This work is the second in a series of three, created as a tribute to my late colleague, Mark Mallia,” she says. “Mark believed he was a fallen angel; hence the title. I wanted to honour him by portraying the way I understood him.”

Ms Farrell’s approach was to weave deeply personal and symbolic materials into the mixed-media composition. “I chose to work in mixed media to incorporate authentic materials: Cigarette butts from our studio ashtray, bouquets of roses he had given me, his signature black jackets, and the three crowns of thorns I had created when he modelled for my Personal Jesus photographs,” she explains. Each piece also incorporates one of Mr Mallia’s tattoo designs, including one Ms Farrell had designed for him which he later had tattooed on his arm.

The artist described the series as “a bridge between this realm and wherever Mark has moved on to,” noting how water, a recurring element in the work, is used symbolically to represent the soul’s journey. The series also draws inspiration from the Book of Revelation, reflecting on themes of struggle, spirituality, and the interplay between life and what lies beyond.

The work was sold as part of the SiGMA Euro-Med Charity Auction, which supports the Foundation’s philanthropic projects. Ms Farrell explained that while a reserve price was set, “the final amount was determined by the bidders.”

An international career

Born in 1974, Ms Farrell is a contemporary Maltese artist whose practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, interactive works, video art, and photography. Her works have been exhibited in Arles, Paris, Brussels, and Luxembourg, and she is also represented in the national collection of Heritage Malta.

She holds qualifications from Università Ca’ Foscari in Venice and the University of Malta, where she lectures within the Department of Digital Arts. Working from her studio in Fgura, she continues to explore multidisciplinary projects.

Among her recent works is Bandiera Bajda, a project featuring white clothing installations across Valletta’s Melita Street, accompanied by public discussions and interviews with fathers. The outcomes were presented to Dr Lydia Abela earlier this year. Farrell is now focused on commissioned works and international collaborations.