VCUarts alum Aprille Zammit makes waves back home in Malta

By Drew Thompson

Aprille Zammit would come to Virginia every year to visit her grandparents, and during those visits in her youth, she discovered her love for the arts, which is now rooted in her homeland of Malta.

The tiny Southern European island country, in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa, is a long way from Richmond. But the summers spent in her grandmother's studio, surrounded by abstract expressionist work and the spirit of artistic creation, set Zammit along the path to Virginia Commonwealth University's School of the Arts in 2012.

"VCU had a strong reputation for both its graphic design and fine art programs, and I was drawn to the creative energy on campus," Zammit said. "Being surrounded by such a diverse and collaborative community really helped me grow and explore different sides of my creativity."

Zammit earned her undergraduate degree in graphic design in 2016, along with a minor in printmaking - she recalls getting hooked on the latter right after her roommate sneaked her into the VCUarts printmaking department one day.

Zammit said her VCU studies revealed how creativity blossoms when different disciplines come together - a lesson that powers her today.

"My time with mOb studiO in particular shaped the way I think about collaboration, community and using creativity for impact," Zammit said of the experimental design lab, which brings together departments to propel emerging artists. "That experience planted the seed for why I continue to use my work in the service of environmental and social causes."

Zammit worked in Virginia before returning to Malta after graduation. There, she has been influencing the art community as the only person offering screen printing workshops in Malta. She continues to create work and lead workshops to sustain printmaking as an art form. Last year, she had her first solo exhibition at one of the island's main galleries, combining both her photography and screen printing practices.

The sea has always been a prominent inspiration for Zammit. In recent years, she has begun working in underwater photography and videography, which blends two of her biggest passions. She released her first underwater short film this year, which was shot on her own breath.

"At some point, it all just naturally came together: my love for photography and my deep connection to the sea," she said. "When I started experimenting with underwater photography and videography a couple of years ago, it immediately clicked - it felt like the perfect way to merge the two."

She has worked with three environmental nonprofits over the years, allowing her to apply her creativity to causes she believes in.

Her current work is driven by fulfilling that devotion - and inspiring others to do the same.

"At the heart of my work is a deep love for nature and the present moment," Zammit said. "My goal is to create reminders to pause, to notice and to feel gratitude for the world around us."

Some of Zammit's work can be seen on her website aprillezammit.com and Instagram @aprillezammit.