Wistin Camilleri was born in Victoria on May 2nd 1885 to Zejtun-born parents who had moved over to Gozo. Lessons art started at the Gozo Seminary, continued at the School of Art in Valletta and later on at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome where he trained under renowned local and foreign artists till he opened his studio in Gozo.

Although being an artist in the whole sense of the word, Wistin Camilleri was primarily a statuarian, mostly within the context of sacred art. Being a deeply religious and spiritual man, one can easily identify his personal characteristics through his artistic output. Only a few churches do not possess one of his artistic creations. His work can also be admired outside our shores such as in Toronto (Canada), Melbourne & Sydney (Australia), New York & Philadelphia (United States of America), Abbyssinia, Tunis, Bona (Africa) and Marseilles(France). Art was his life and his time was taken up with his work. Any time of the day was a good time to work!

Wistin Camilleri also excelled in the medium of papier mache, mastering a technique so sound that the statues could endure movements from one place to another without sustaining any damage.

Unfortunately most statues cannot be admired in their original state. Most of them had to be repainted or have sustained damages due to the inclement weather. There are examples whereby some statues have been altered by the artist himself and worst of all, some statues we irretrievably lost during the last war. These can only be appreciated through relevant documents. Luckily some are still intact!

He worked throughout his long life and his output was impressive both in amount as well as in value. A quarter of a decade has passed since his death but his memory lingers on and on for the years to come in the precious treasures he bequeathed to us and our future generations.