Services, hours and details last checked against Galea's Art Studio's own published information.
Galea's Art Studio and Gallery is an art supplies shop and gallery at 221 Strait Street in Valletta, trading since 1920. It sells paints, brushes, papers, pencils, calligraphy materials and gift sets for beginners and professionals, and shows original watercolours by the marine and naval artist Edwin Galea. Questions can be sent through the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page.
Strait Street was once the lively, slightly notorious night-time heart of Valletta, and it is now a quieter lane of small independent businesses. At number 221 you will find Galea's Art Studio and Gallery, a shop that has supplied the island's painters, students and hobbyists since 1920 and that still sells everything from a single watercolour pan to a full set of professional pastels.
It is listed on VisitMalta.co.uk in our directory of art galleries in Malta, and it makes a rewarding stop on a walk through the capital, which our Valletta guide covers in detail.
A Valletta shop with a century of history
Joseph Galea opened the business in 1920, and it has been part of the life of Valletta for more than a hundred years. The studio sells artist's materials for beginners through to professionals, drawn from well-known makers including Daler Rowney, Royal Talens, Seawhite of Brighton, Pebeo and Sakura, among many others. UK visitors will recognise several of those names from their own art shops at home.
The team is always ready to answer questions and offer practical advice, which is useful if you are choosing between oil and acrylic, or a first set of brushes. Many visitors combine a browse here with a look at the Upper Barrakka Gardens or St John's Co-Cathedral, both a short walk away.
What you can buy
The online catalogue lists several hundred products and is organised into clear collections: acrylic paints and paper, oil paints and paper, watercolour paints and paper, brushes and knives, calligraphy, inks and nibs, pencils, pastels and charcoals, paper and canvas, crafts and tools, auxiliaries, prints and artisan crafts, and sets and gift ideas.
Typical purchases range from single items such as a plastic palette, a sharpener or a set of colour pencils through to complete starter kits for acrylic painting or drawing, and larger boxed sets of artist-quality pastels or paints. Every product page shows its price in euros with tax included, and the website marks items that are sold out, so you can check what is available before you travel. Prices and stock can change.
Ready-made sets are a good idea for gifts, and the shop has put together seasonal bundles for creative friends and family. If you are travelling with a sketchbook, the shop is a convenient place to restock while you explore the island, and our guide to things to do in Malta has plenty of subjects worth drawing.
The gallery and Edwin Galea
Alongside the shop, Galea's Art Gallery shows original work by Edwin Galea, a marine and naval artist with more than seventy years of experience. His watercolours have their own section of the shop's website, and commissions can be arranged through a consultation. Maltese harbour scenes and naval subjects are a natural fit for a city shaped by the sea and by the Knights of Malta, and an original makes a lasting souvenir.
The gallery also exhibits other local artists and sees its role as giving a platform to artists old and new, so the walls can change from one visit to the next. Across the Grand Harbour, the towns described in our Three Cities guide offer more of the maritime scenery that Edwin Galea paints.
Planning your visit
Valletta is compact and best explored on foot, so allow time to wander down Strait Street rather than rushing past it. The city sits at the heart of most itineraries, and if you are still deciding where to base yourself, see our pages on hotels in Valletta and the weather by month to choose a good time to visit. Travellers arriving from Britain will find the options in our guide to flights to Malta.
Because opening hours are not published, it is sensible to ask before a special trip. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the studio.
Questions about Galea's Art Studio
Where is Galea's Art Studio?
The studio is at 221 Strait Street in Valletta, the capital of Malta. Strait Street runs through the heart of the old city, so the shop is easy to combine with a walking tour of the main sights.
How long has the shop been trading?
Joseph Galea opened Galea's Art Studio and Gallery in 1920, so the business has been part of Valletta for over a century. It now supplies artist's materials to beginners and professionals alike.
What brands does the shop stock?
The shop sells artist's supplies from makers including Daler Rowney, Royal Talens, Seawhite of Brighton, Pebeo and Sakura, among many others. Its online catalogue lists several hundred products across paints, brushes, paper, pencils and craft materials.
Can I buy original paintings there?
Yes. The gallery shows original watercolours by Edwin Galea, a marine and naval artist, and also exhibits other local artists. Edwin Galea takes commissions through a consultation, which you can ask about through our form.
Does the shop sell prints and gifts?
It does. The website has collections for prints, artisan crafts and accessories, and for sets, collections and gift ideas. Seasonal bundles of art materials have also been put together for creative gifts.
What are the opening hours?
Opening hours are not published on the shop's website. Please ask through the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your question to the studio so you can plan your visit.
Practical information
Galea's Art Studio is at 221 Strait Street, Valletta, and also runs an online shop with several hundred products. The business does not publish opening hours on its website. To ask about stock, brands, commissions or a visit to the gallery, use the enquiry form on this page and VisitMalta.co.uk will pass your message to the studio.
Location
Other art galleries in malta to compare
Listed under
The details on this page were correct on 25 October 2026, as published on the Galea's Art Studio website. Services, prices and hours can change, so please confirm when you enquire.