“In his contagious enthusiasm is the rebellion of youth.” Although the conservative local art establishment may initially have seen outspoken teenager Mark Schembri as their ‘enfant terrible,’ art critic E.V. Borg, considered the Bank of Valletta's Youth Service Organisation Art Competition winner a “romantic expressionist.”

Now well-established, the insatiably curious, versatile and genre-defying Schembri boldly tackles the historical, the natural, the satirical and the divine. His striking compositions are rendered with vigour and verve, in unconventional hues and an illustrative, graphical style, serving as statements, stories, observations and expressions. “I like to challenge people, even with a landscape.” says Schembri, who believes he was “born to be an artist.”

Early on he felt a deep love for his history and heritage, and a warm nostalgia for the Malta in the tales of his youth. Scenery which “speaks to him” is depicted fondly, with vibrancy and warmth.

Schembri studied graphic design and fine art in his home town of Mosta at the Salvatore Dimech School (now MCAST) under renowned local artists Anthony Calleja and Luciano Micallef and has since exhibited extensively. Two of his many public commissions can be found at the Mosta Parish Church and the Mgarr Parish Church.