Romulus Folio has become a distinctive creative presence within Fishermans Bend, contributing to the precinct’s emerging cultural identity through its artist‑led gallery, workshops and studio practice. Founded by Angelina Mirabito PhD and Scott Ross, the studio brings contemporary art, design and research together in a way that invites participation as much as observation. As they mark one year at The Gladstone, we spoke with the team about their practice, their connection to Fishermans Bend, and how hands‑on creativity can help shape a growing precinct.
What’s the story behind Romulus Folio, and what drew you to establish your studio in Fishermans Bend?
Romulus Folio is an independent, artist-led gallery and open studio founded by Angelina Mirabito PhD, artist and Creative Director, and Scott Ross, Gallery Manager. The practice operates at the intersection of contemporary art, design and architecture, combining research-driven artistic practice with curatorial programming and an active studio environment.
The gallery began as an online initiative in 2024 before evolving into a physical space through a studio residency at The Gladstone in South Melbourne. An initial short-term activation initiative enabled us to transform a vacant lobby shell into a functioning studio and exhibition environment, embedding art within daily life.
Since 30 June 2025, the program has continued independently through exhibitions, workshops and an integrated studio practice. This model brings making and exhibiting into the same environment, allowing audiences to engage directly with both process and outcome.
Fishermans Bend is one of Melbourne’s most significant urban renewal precincts, and the opportunity to contribute to its emerging cultural identity was central to establishing the gallery here. Romulus Folio operates as a living creative site where artistic production, public engagement and curatorial practice exist simultaneously.
How would you describe the kind of creative experience people can expect when they walk into one of your workshops?
Workshops at Romulus Folio are immersive, material-focused and accessible to participants at all levels. They take place within an active studio environment, where experimentation, intuition and direct engagement with materials are central.
Sessions typically begin with a short guided meditation or grounding exercise, creating space for participants to slow down and connect with their internal state before moving into the painting process. From there, workshops focus on tactile approaches such as palette knife painting, encouraging participants to work physically with colour, texture and surface.
This structure reflects the gallery’s broader emphasis on process-led practice, where making is both intuitive and embodied. The atmosphere is open yet intentional, supporting reflection, conversation and hands-on exploration. Participants engage with technique and creativity as a lived experience that is often both energising and grounding.
Fishermans Bend is home to a growing creative and maker community. How does being part of this precinct influence your work or collaborations?
Operating within Fishermans Bend positions Romulus Folio within a rapidly evolving cultural and architectural landscape. The precinct is attracting architects, designers and creative practitioners, creating strong conditions for interdisciplinary exchange.
The gallery collaborates across disciplines, working with artists, designers and spatial practitioners to develop installation-led exhibitions and projects that extend beyond traditional formats.
This context supports an ongoing dialogue between art, design and the built environment, where creative practice contributes to how space is experienced and understood. It reinforces the role of culture as a form of infrastructure that shapes identity, connection and long-term place value within an urban renewal setting.
What do you hope people take away, creatively or personally, after spending time in your gallery?
Romulus Folio is designed as a space where art is encountered as part of lived experience rather than as a separate or formalised event.
We hope visitors leave with a renewed sense of curiosity and an understanding that creativity is accessible within their everyday lives. The gallery encourages people to slow down, observe closely and engage with ideas through both material and spatial experience.
Art offers moments of reflection, emotional resonance and new perspectives. Even brief encounters within the space can shift how people perceive themselves, their environment and the role of creativity in daily life.
How do you see the role of art and hands-on creativity evolving as Fishermans Bend continues to grow and change?
As Fishermans Bend develops into a major residential and commercial hub, creative spaces will play a critical role in shaping its cultural identity. Artist-led initiatives contribute by embedding art directly within lived environments rather than positioning it as external or secondary.
Hands-on creativity is increasingly important as a counterbalance to digital life. Workshops, exhibitions and participatory programs offer direct engagement with materials and ideas, fostering connection and shared experience.
Long term, cultural infrastructure will be essential to ensuring the precinct develops as a vibrant, socially connected and culturally engaged community.
How can local businesses, residents or community groups get involved with your workshops or creative programs?
Inside Wonder Opening Night
WHEN: 5-7pm, 17 April 2026
WHERE: Romulus Gallery at The Gladstone, Ground Floor, Tower B, 15-85 Gladstone Street, South Melbourne 3205.
Romulus Folio presents Inside Wonder, a free exhibition anchored in the works of Xinzhi Li, marking the gallery’s one year anniversary at The Gladstone.
