Book Launch – ‘Bodies of Water’ by Stef Galea

Bodies of Water / Ħallini Nsir il-Baħar

Book Launch by Stef Galea

Join us for the launch of Stef Galea’s debut photobook, Bodies of Water / Ħallini Nsir il-Baħar.

Designed by Studio Matthew Roland Bannister, the self-published photobook reflects on identity as something residual and ever-shifting – a waveform that shapes, erodes, and reshapes the self.
The work which moves between the cinematic and the intimate, muses on themes of femininity, shame, religion, and heritage – how the body holds culture, and how identity shifts like the sea and how it ties to the two islands Stef hails from.

The book also features a poem by Maltese poet Elizabeth Grech, whose words frame the photographs in a shared language of memory and longing.

The event will be opened by Dr Joanna Delia

Bodies of Water / Ħallini Nsir il-Baħar
Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025
Venue: Malta Society of Arts, Valletta
Time: 6-9pm

Stef Galea – Biography

Stef Galea is a Maltese photographer based between London and Malta whose work bridges fashion, fine art, and cultural storytelling. Rooted in her Mediterranean heritage, her practice often explores themes of identity, femininity, and place, creating imagery that feels both intimate and cinematic. She holds a Master’s degree in Photography from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

Her editorial work has been published internationally in publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ amongst others, and she has collaborated with brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Repossi, and Vivienne Westwood.

Galea has photographed leading cultural figures such as Samuel L. Jackson, Daisy Ridley, and many of the most celebrated actresses in Arab cinema.

Alongside her photographic practice, Galea is the co-founder of Studio Monde, a North London photography studio and creative hub that supports image-makers through residencies, workshops, and community-driven projects.

EXHIBITIONS:
Bodies in Colour – Solo Exhibition, Malta 2021
Traces – Solo Exhibition, Valletta Contemporary, Malta 2019
Women’s Perspectives, The Delegation of the European Union to the United States, Washington DC 2018
Collective, Malta, 2016
Passports, Nettle House, London 2014
Residual Identities, CSM, London, 2014

Wednesday 5 November 2025

6pm

Malta Society of Arts,
Concert Hall,
Palazzo de La Salle,
219, Republic Street,
Valletta

Free