A Return to Presence: 50 new artworks

Oblong Contemporary presents A Return to Presence, a significant new exhibition unveiling a curated selection of 50 newly arrived artworks.

More than a presentation of new works, the exhibition marks a moment of recalibration — a return to the essential experience of art as presence, encounter, and shared space.

The selection brings together long-awaited works by Annalù, Stefano Bombardieri, Umberto Ciceri, alongside the sculptural animal bronzes of Giuseppe Maiorana, the refined visual compositions of Robert Hromec, and the distinctive sculptural works of Youn Kyoung Cho. Complementing the dialogue, the sculptural forms of Gustavo Vélez, carved in marble, introduce a dimension of material clarity and meditative balance. The newest works by Cveto Marsič will also be on display, expanding the exhibition with a distinct painterly perspective rooted in landscape, rhythm, and abstraction.

At its core, the exhibition unfolds as a conversation between form and perception — where sculpture and painting operate not only as objects, but as presences.
Maiorana’s bronzes distill the animal figure into archetypal form — silent, grounded, and enduring. Bombardieri explores weight and existential tension, while Ciceri introduces movement and poise. Annalù expands material language through light and layered transparency. Hromec constructs visual depth through gesture and rhythm, while Youn Kyoung Cho introduces a contrasting sensibility through expressive form and narrative presence. Vélez shapes marble into meditative clarity, balancing void and volume.

In a time marked by complexity and fragmentation, the exhibition offers something increasingly rare: a space to gather, to reconnect, and to experience art in its most immediate form.

The exhibition opens on 6 May 2026 from 7 PM, with a cocktail reception at Oblong Contemporary, Al Khayat Art Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Dubai.

This presentation introduces a highly limited selection of works, many of which are unique or part of small editions, and will be made available for acquisition for the first time during the evening.

Collectors are invited to engage closely with the artworks and to secure key pieces prior to wider release.