Oil paintings for sale painted solely by Michael Wright. Commissions welcome. Exclusive, unique, original, valuable. Global delivery.
About the artist.
Reviews
A flourishing career that has reached a remarkable milestone. Michael Wright, the Australian painter who has been painting in Malta full-time for the last 10 years, has sold his 300th painting.
This is a magnificent feat on its own right. Michael, best known as LeMakoo (a nickname – used for memorability, just as Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de Paloma preferred to sign the name Picasso) is a unique artist with both feet fixed firmly in the commercial and flamboyant.
A quick tour around Malta and it becomes easy to appreciate the impact LeMakoo has made on his home. From restaurants in St. Julians to wine bars in Valletta and even furniture showrooms proudly display a burning, moving landscape of LeMakoo. He has succeeded in creating a brand name for himself – something local artists seldom achieve – and the Malta art scene is all the better for it. Of course, LeMakoo is not solely a ‘local’ artist in the pedestrian sense, LeMakoo is an internationally successful artist who even has paintings on display in a prestigious gallery in Moscow. This is a source of great pride for the globe-trotting Australian painter although he takes even more pride in the statistic that says 62% of his sales have been local. This landmark sale is the culmination of a long artistic career that spans a lifetime and a half, one might say. LeMakoo was always an artist, and he spent 15 years working as an artist for newspapers. Whilst the job was satisfactory as it gave him good experience, exposure and contacts he grew tired of publishing artwork that would only survive until the next day. He wanted to create something less perishable and with more longevity – and without photoshop! LeMakoo held his first exhibition on the Isle of Man 15 years ago, shortly before coming to Malta, and it was the start of a prosperous affair. In Malta he has held exhibitions in a variety of places like hotels (a stand-out one being in the Hotel Phoenicia where he exhibited works inspired by his native Sydney and Malta, hosted by the Australian Embassy.), restaurants and trade fairs. The art market is analogous to the ‘survival of the fittest’ regime nature employs. Only the most adaptable survive and LeMakoo’s success – prices for a 120 x 60cm painting have increased over 100% and the sales have increased proportionately – is a triumph of individuality and artistic integrity. Justin Fenech. 2015Personal Statement
Michael Wright is an artist and writer with a passion for expression in many forms. Born in Sydney, he was fortunate to get an artist position at Fairfax Newspapers at an early age that influenced the rest of his life. From there, following in the footsteps of countless Australians he landed at Heathrow airport in London to pursue his ambitions. Once again he was fortunate in gathering a wide range of experience on a number of London’s leading newspapers over a period of many years. ‘The most fun I had was with the Daily Mirror, the office was full of energy, talent and drive and I found myself in many interesting situations.’ 10 April 1992: A large IRA bomb explodes outside 30 St Mary Axe in the City of London. Wright was tasked with describing and drawing the entire incident for the Sunday Telegraph. Searching through the bomb crater gathering evidence with his camera and notepad in a scene of devastation, he noticed a small delicate ship sculpture in a glass case that had survived the blast totally intact, barely ten metres from the epicentre. ‘The glass case was covered in debris, the roof of the building above it was missing, yet somehow this most fragile of things had survived.’ 1993-94: Drawing front page political cartoons for The European. Major stories at that time were the Bosnian war, the referendums and negotiations forming the European Union and Russia coping with the fall of communism. ‘I enjoyed drawing Russians in their big fur coats and hats, they were easily caricatured and instantly recognisable. Drawing cartoons about the war in Bosnia were tricky. I had to tread a fine line introducing humour into a subject filled largely with tragedy. I found that attacking politicians was always easy and I was delighted to receive correspondence and sales from the public.’Review by John Readman
Michael Wright is a highly regarded artist of striking style and originality. His vivid Maltese paintings exhibit an extraordinary intensity of colour that skilfully juxtaposes light and shadow to capture the changing conditions of the Mediterranean. These extremes, in contrast, are reminiscent of the tension and release found in great Jazz compositions, creating atmosphere and passion in his work. His intricate and subtle techniques with opposite hues of the colour spectrum, give an eerie detail and realism within the shadows of the artist’s landscapes. The scenes evoke a dignity and integrity that capture the moods of the Maltese Islands. Michael Wright has produced many memorable images of Malta. His paintings of Valletta are rich and powerful. Valletta Red, Valletta Blue and Sweeping Valletta are all good examples. Similarly, his painting of Vittoriosa, Filfla, Golden Bay, Mdina and the Sentinels of Ghajn Tuffieha are fine works of art. I recommend you seek out and enjoy these impressive paintings.
The High Commissioner for Australia H.E. Ms Anne Quinane. Opening LeMakoo’s exhibition.
LeMakoo 
8 responses to “Home”
Good morning, We would like to know, if we were to commission a painting from you by the end of this week or beginning next, whether you would be able to have it ready by 12/7, if not by when? Also what information would you need from us.
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Hi Elizabeth, Yes that’s possible. I would need a size for the painting and a photo or description of the subject. My email address is michael@lemakoo.com , or you can call me on 79336114
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Thank you. I will get back to you shortly.
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Ok, cheers
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Great paintings. Just bought second painting and got it shipped by Malta post. Perfekt. Mike thanks. Bernd
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Cheers Bernd, thanks
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Hi Michael,
I was on your Facebook page and loved your paintings. Can you please give me an indication of prices for a painting 150cm x 75cm. I’m interested in the city scapes.
Thanks
Claire
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Hi, thanks Claire
Price would be 1200 euros for a box canvas (thicker painted edges) or a normal canvas that can be framed. check out https://lemakoo.com/commissions-html/
for more information.
All the best
Mike
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