PHOTOGRAPHERS

Guido Stilon
Photographer
Photographer

Guido Stilon

Guido Stilon

About

Guido Stilon (1932–1975) was a Maltese photographer renowned for his evocative black-and-white images that document Malta's transformation in the post-World War II era. Born in Valletta, he lived on St Paul’s Street during his childhood before moving to St Christopher Street after the war. His passion for photography ignited in the mid-1950s while he was a student at the University of Malta.

Though he never pursued photography professionally, Stilon's work gained international recognition. He was awarded in Kodak’s The World and its People competition, leading to his photographs being exhibited at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. He also documented significant events, such as the excavation of the Tas-Silġ archaeological site, and sold color slides of his work at Ellis Photo Studio in Valletta.

Stilon's photographic style was meticulous; he often revisited scenes to capture them under optimal lighting conditions, using a light meter and his trusted Exakta cameras. His subjects ranged from urban landscapes and architectural details to candid moments of everyday life, reflecting Malta's social and economic shifts during the 1950s and 1960s.

After his untimely death at 43, his widow, Grace Cilia Vincenti, preserved his extensive archive of over 6,000 negatives and 5,300 color slides. In 2018, she collaborated with the Magna Żmien Foundation to digitize and share his work. This initiative culminated in the 2020 exhibition Malta in Transition at the Malta Postal Museum, reintroducing Stilon's poignant visual narratives to the public.

Today, his collection is housed at the National Archives of Malta, serving as a vital visual record of the nation's mid-20th-century history. Stilon is now celebrated as one of Malta's significant post-war photographers, his legacy offering invaluable insights into the country's cultural heritage.

Last photos by Guido Stilon

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