Meet the man behind the creations
BACKGOUND & EDUCATION
Early Life - Born in Malta in 1998, Farrugia comes from a family with a long-standing tradition in the jewellery industry.
Academic Path - He initially graduated with honours in Sociology from the University of Malta in 2020.
Specialized Training - In 2020, he was awarded the Malta Art Scholarships Fund, which allowed him to study at the prestigious IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) in Milan. He graduated in 2023 with First Level Academic Diploma.
Ancient Techniques - Farrugia trained under master jewellers (like Stefano Marchetti and Fabrizio Acquafresca) to master the rare and ancient art of Chasing and Repousse' the meticulous process of sculpting and hammering flat sheets of precious metal into three-dimensional forms.
NOTABLE WORKS & ACHIEVEMENTS
The Marian Crown - His most famous recent commission is a highly detailed, 4-kilogram gold-plated sterling silver crown created for the coronation ceremony of the devotional statue of Our Lady of Fatima in Guardamangia, Malta. That piece took five months to meticulously hammer and assemble by hand.
International Recognition - Because of his work on the Marian Crown and his sacred art, Farrugia was recently featured in the book '100 Artists of Europe' (2026) by the Italian cultural institution Cultural Lab.
Exhibitions - His work has been exhibited both locally and internationally, including showcases at the Holy Art Gallery in London, exhibitions in Milan, and the Romanian Jewellery Week (2024), where he presented jewellery pieces used chasing and repousse' to depict contemporary architecture.
TEACHING & OTHER VENTURES
Jewellery Instructor - Farrugia actively passes on his craft. He serves as an instructor at the Art Academy in Mosta, Malta, where he teaches beginner and advanced jewellery-making courses, as well as hands-on silver workshops.
Musical Talents - Outside of metalworking, he is also a skilled musician. By the age of 18, he was already directing his own musical compositions - primarily sacred music - with choirs and orchestras in churches across Malta.
In short, Gabriel is a prominent young craftsman keeping the dying art of traditional silversmithing alive while applying it to both high-end contemporary jewellery and traditional sacred art.