ROMULUS REANCHORED
A New Creative Anchor at the World Trade Centre Melbourne
Every creative journey reaches a moment of renewal. For ROMULUS Folio Studio Gallery, that moment arrived through reanchoring at the World Trade Centre Melbourne. Our new Studio Gallery has found its place within a growing creative community where contemporary art, collaboration and cultural exchange are shaping an exciting future.
When ROMULUS first emerged through conversations in 2024 before opening its doors in 2025, our vision was to create an independent artist-run initiative where contemporary Australian art could be experienced in ways that felt welcoming, engaging and meaningful. We imagined a studio gallery that extended beyond its walls through digital platforms, creating opportunities for artists to exhibit with confidence, collectors to discover new voices, students to gain professional experience, and conversations to emerge between art, architecture, interior design and the wider community.
From the beginning, we were interested in rethinking what a studio gallery could be. Rather than simply presenting exhibitions, we wanted to create an environment where creativity could flourish through genuine relationships, curiosity and shared experience.
Over the past couple of years, that vision has grown beyond anything we imagined. ROMULUS has presented exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, meditation sessions, children’s programs, artist salons, university internships and community events, welcoming up to 2,000 visitors. Artists entrusted us with their work, collectors discovered new talent and meaningful collaborations developed across the creative industries. Each exhibition and every relationship has strengthened our belief in the importance of artist-led cultural spaces.
Preparing to move encouraged us to reflect on what truly defines an artist-run studio gallery. Buildings change, locations evolve and exhibitions, like projects in the studio, come and go, yet the identity of ROMULUS lives within the loyalty to contemporary art, the ideas it shares across disciplines and the relationships it nurtures. Those relationships become the strongest foundation for every new chapter.
The move also reinforced an important lesson about sustaining an arts practice. Creative communities are built through trust, collaboration and reciprocity. Contemporary art is both a cultural practice and a profession, and for artists to build lasting careers, the business of art must also be sustainable. These ideas continue to shape our conversations with artists, collectives, galleries, cultural organisations, patrons and local government as we explore new models for artist-led practice.
Those reflections naturally led us to the idea of reanchoring. An anchor provides stability while creating the confidence to explore. It offers a point of connection, a place to gather and a foundation from which new journeys begin. Reanchoring has meant carrying every lesson, friendship, collaboration and achievement into a new environment where they can continue to grow.
ROMULUS Folio Studio Gallery has now reanchored at the World Trade Centre Melbourne. Located within Tower 3, Level 3, the studio gallery has quickly begun to establish its own identity. Paintings are beginning to fill the walls, the studio has entered the foundational phase of a significant commission and visitors have already begun discovering the space in its new surroundings. Every day brings new opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships and imagine what the future of ROMULUS can become.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of this transition has been the welcome we have received. From the moment we arrived, we were embraced with generosity, encouragement and genuine enthusiasm. There is a remarkable openness throughout the World Trade Centre Melbourne where creativity is valued, collaboration is encouraged and new ideas are welcomed. That spirit has made our new home feel immediately familiar while opening the door to exciting opportunities.
Sheryl Leigh CEO of Creative Asia Art Centre, Australia Women & Children Protection and Development Inc. & Le Grange Gallery; Angelina Mirabito Romulus Creative Director and Interdisciplinary Artist and, Scott Ross Romulus folio Gallery Manager.
ROMULUS Folio Studio Gallery is proud to be part of the arts community at the World Trade Centre Melbourne alongside Creative Asia Art Centre, Le Grange Gallery and the emerging Melbourne Arts Advancement Centre. Together these organisations are contributing to a vibrant cultural destination where artists, galleries, creative organisations and audiences can connect through shared experiences and cultural exchange. We are especially grateful to Sheryl Leigh, Kevin Fok and Angela Liu for making what this new chapter is becoming possible. We deeply appreciate their support to me as an artist and ROMULUS and going out of their way to accomodate and welcome us into their beautiful space with waterfront views and community.
Alongside our exhibition program, ROMULUS continues to evolve through artist development, commissions and collaborations with interior designers, architects, developers, businesses and cultural organisations. These partnerships demonstrate how contemporary art can become an integral part of the built environment while creating meaningful connections between creative practice and everyday life.
Looking ahead, we are excited by what lies beyond this new beginning. Reanchoring has strengthened our vision, deepened our understanding, expanded our community and opened new possibilities and ways of thinking. Our commitment to contemporary art remains at the heart of everything we do, and our new home provides an inspiring environment in which that vision can continue.
In the coming weeks, we look forward to welcoming visitors to PRISM, our first group exhibition in the new Studio Gallery. Bringing together the work of eight Melbourne artists, the exhibition celebrates the diversity of contemporary Australian painting and mixed media. It marks the beginning of a new phase for ROMULUS and reflects the many artistic voices and perspectives that will continue to shape our future.
Dr Angelina Mirabito
Creative Director & Artist in Residence
Scott Ross
Gallery Manager
ROMULUS Folio Studio Gallery
