Ebba von Fersen Balzan first came to Malta in 1986. She was mostly fascinated by Maltese culture and as an artist she was particularly attracted to the intense light of the Maltese landscape, the colour of the Maltese stone and the megalithic temples. In 1989 she held her first exhibitions in Malta: the first exhibition, in aid of Alternattiva Demokratika, was held at the hotel Phoenicia and another followed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta.