Gustavo Vélez

During Milano Design Week 2026, Oblong Contemporary presents an extended selection of artworks at Giorgetti Spiga – The Place, where contemporary art enters into a precise and considered dialogue with architecture, design, and material research.

Conceived as an integrated presentation rather than a traditional exhibition, the selection unfolds across the interiors of the historic residence on Via della Spiga, where each work is positioned in direct relationship to space, light, and proportion. Within this context, sculpture and painting are not treated as autonomous objects, but as active elements that shape the perception of the environment.

At the core of the presentation are the works of Stefano Bombardieri, whose sculptural language investigates weight, suspension, and existential tension. His practice is rooted in a deep reflection on balance — both physical and symbolic — where mass appears simultaneously grounded and unstable. Works such as Balancing on the Past 4 (2021), La forma e il contenuto lucido (mini) (2024), and La forma e il contenuto nero (piccolo) (2024) articulate this duality through bronze, while Tutto andava a fuoco (2020) introduces a more conceptual dimension, combining material transformation with a sense of contained fragility.

In dialogue with Bombardieri, the works of Sauro Cavallini bring a distinct expressive intensity. Cavallini’s sculptural practice is defined by movement and emotional force, where figures and animals are captured in moments of tension and release. From the dynamism of Passo di danza (1979) and Ballerina (1981), to the powerful presence of Cavallo con criniera e coda, his works translate gesture into form. Complementing the sculptures, works on paper such as Passo a due in volo (1977) and Cavallo eretto (1969) reveal the immediacy of his line and the foundational role of drawing in his practice.

A more subtle and material-driven approach is introduced through Candida Ferrari, whose works in plexiglass and acrylic investigate transparency, light, and spatial layering. Pieces such as Luce trasparente (2026) and COSE RITROVATE (2000) operate through restraint, where minimal intervention produces a refined visual tension. The works shift depending on light conditions, creating a constantly evolving perception that is both delicate and precise.

The exploration of surface and structure continues with Omar Ludo, whose Estroflessione bianca grande (2022) expands the pictorial plane into a sculptural dimension. The work moves beyond traditional painting, where the canvas itself becomes a three-dimensional object, emphasizing volume, rhythm, and repetition.

A central role within the presentation is held by Fiedler O Mastrangelo, whose practice navigates between architecture, abstraction, and material experimentation. The large-scale Topografie triptych (2026) establishes a spatial rhythm through layered surfaces and gestural marks, while works such as Solomon Chopsticks (2024) — executed in Murano glass and forged steel — introduce a complex dialogue between fragility and structural precision. Sculptural works including Pillars of Creation (2024) further reinforce this interplay between mass and lightness, solidity and transformation.

The sculptural narrative is extended by Nicola Salvatore, whose Il carro degli idei (2009) reflects a more symbolic and narrative approach, rooted in classical references yet articulated through a contemporary lens.

In contrast, Umberto Ciceri’s HYPERTRAIT QUALIA (2014) introduces a conceptual investigation of perception and image, combining optics, photography, and layered materials to question the nature of representation.

Completing the selection, Gustavo Vélez presents Expansión Geométrica II (2023), a work that exemplifies his internationally recognised approach to geometric deformation. In Vélez’s practice, rigid structures appear to bend and expand, creating the illusion of movement within static material, and transforming geometry into a fluid, almost organic presence.

Across the presentation, a unifying thread emerges: a continuous negotiation between weight and lightness, structure and fluidity, permanence and transformation. Each work contributes to a broader narrative where contemporary art is not isolated, but embedded within the experience of space.

This approach reflects Oblong Contemporary’s ongoing commitment to placing artworks within lived environments — where sculpture and painting become part of a larger architectural and cultural context.

Oblong Contemporary is proud to collaborate with Giorgetti for Dialoghi Creativi, an immersive exhibition where contemporary art and interior design come together in perfect harmony. Hosted within the refined setting...

Oblong Contemporary is pleased to present Geometria Senza Confini , a major solo exhibition by Colombian sculptor Gustavo Vélez , curated by Eike Schmidt . Held in the historic heart...

The Municipality of Viareggio and Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery announce the opening of the exhibition 'ESSERE GEOMETRICO' by Colombian artist GUSTAVO VELEZ, which will be open to the public from...

Oblong Contemporary Gallery will partecipate to the 3rd Edition of Roma Arte In Nuvola Fiera Internazionale di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, taking place in Rome from the 24th to the 26th of November 2023.

The City of Forte dei Marmi, the Villa Bertelli Foundation and Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery announce the opening of the exhibition "Essere Geometrico" by the Colombian artist Gustavo Vélez which will be open to the public from 10 June to 18 September 2023.

With the opening of Giorgetti Spiga – The Place in via della Spiga in Milan, the collaboration with the Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery in Dubai and Forte dei Marmi is consolidated.

Caesars Palace Dubai and Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery on Bluewaters Island, Dubai give life to an exhibition project that involves the international artists of the Gallery. Housed within the luxurious resort, a series of shows will be held, the first of which has just opened, entitled GOLD, featuring the works of the artists like Gustavo Velez, Gianfranco Meggiato, Manu Alguerò and Flavio Lucchini.

Oblong Contemporary Gallery will partecipate to the 2nd Edition of Roma Arte In Nuvola Art Fair, taking place in Rome from the 17th to the 20th of November 2022.

Oblong Contemporary Gallery will present the works by Gustavo Vélez, Manu Algueró, Stefano Bombardieri, Abol Atighetchi, Cveto Marsič, Flavio Lucchini and Gianfranco Meggiato at the Showroom of GIORGETTI in OBEGI Home, Dubai.

Oblong Contemporary Gallery is proud to announce the participation to the 17th Edition of the Contemporary Istanbul art fair, taking place in Istanbul from the 17th to the 22nd of September 2022.

On the occasion of the Milan Design Week and the Salone del Mobile, the collaboration between Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery of Forte dei Marmi and Dubai and Giorgetti is renewed.

Oblong Contemporary Gallery will participate to Roma Arte in Nuvola International Fair of Modern and Contemporary Art taking place from the 18th until the 21st of November.

Oblong Contemporary in Dubai opens up the winter season with the group show “New Era”, on the occasion of the inauguration of a new exhibition space in front of the Ain Dubai in Bluewaters Island

Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery will be present at the Fuorisalone of Milan with a collective exhibition hosted at the MyOwnGallery of SuperstudioPiù in via Tortona 27.

This summer, Gustavo Vélez will present the solo exhibition "Seduzioni Geometriche" at Oblong Contemporary Forte dei Marmi. Vélez is able to render harmonic and fluid lines in the geometric forms of his sculptures.

OBLONG's debut exhibition THE NASCENCE, marks the galleries entry into Dubai’s internationally established art scene, showcasing the works of some of the most prolific and prominent artists of contemporary art, including: Igor Mitoraj, Manolo Valdéz, Stefano Bombardier, amongst many others.