WINTER: Opening Reflections from Romulus Folio Gallery
On Friday evening, we opened our doors to celebrate WINTER, a new body of work by Angelina Mirabito, artist-in-residence and founding director of Romulus Folio Gallery.
This exhibition, unfolding across July and early August, offers a contemplative journey into what the artist calls the inner season, that quieter emotional terrain we often reach in winter, when the light softens and old stories begin to shift. With layered works in deep blue, brown, white and gold, WINTER doesn’t retreat from complexity; instead, it sits gently with it. The pieces speak to resilience, softness, and the transformative power of presence.
A special feature of the exhibition is the inclusion of selected works created during our in-gallery workshops. These pieces, made by emerging and community-based artists, sit alongside Angelina’s own, a reflection of the gallery’s commitment to process, participation, and reimagining what contemporary exhibition spaces can hold. At Romulus Folio, we believe art can be both deeply personal and widely accessible. Our exhibitions are often in conversation with the creative work that unfolds in the same space during the weeks leading up to a show.
The opening night reflected this ethos beautifully. Held in conjunction with The Gladstone’s monthly residents’ social night, the event welcomed a diverse and engaged audience, from artists and designers visiting the Décor + Design Show, to our regular workshop participants, studio neighbours, and long-time supporters. What began as a gallery opening quickly became a gathering, one where new friendships formed, thoughtful conversations emerged, and the room felt anything but cold.
This is the second month in which our exhibitions have launched as part of the Gladstone Resident Monthly Friday Social night community event, and we’re already seeing the depth that continuity brings. Familiar faces return. New ones are warmly welcomed. The presence of food, music, and shared space makes art feel alive, not just something to observe, but something to be part of.
At Romulus Folio, we are continually exploring how galleries can function as more than just sites of presentation. We see them as places of transformation, both artistic and social. Our curatorial model values emotional depth, collaboration, and truth-telling. We centre artists whose work resonates not only visually, but viscerally. We invite audiences not to consume art, but to connect through it.
As WINTER continues, we invite visitors to slow down and sit with the work, to feel rather than interpret. To listen to what is quiet. To honour what remains.
Our deep thanks to everyone who joined us, including Angelina’s family, who once again helped nourish the event with warmth, food, and the kind of generous presence that truly shapes these evenings. Thank you also to the many creatives, arts supporters and collectors who continue to support this evolving space. You are part of what makes Romulus Folio more than a gallery, you make it a living, growing community.
WINTER
On view until August 5, 2025
Romulus Folio Gallery | 15–85 Gladstone Street, South Melbourne
Wed–Fri 12–7pm | Sat–Sun 2–5pm | or by appointment
Free entry