Julian Opie and the summer exhibitions across Dubai and Madrid
Published on 08/31/2026 at 10:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Julian Opie extends his international exhibition footprint across Opera Gallery’s summer program in Dubai and Madrid in 2026. As Opera Gallery Dubai and Opera Gallery Madrid document, his works feature in the group shows Summer Vibes and Summer Vibes IV, both running through late August 2026. Opera Gallery Dubai exhibition page
Julian Opie in Dubai’s Summer Vibes
Opera Gallery Dubai’s exhibition Summer Vibes runs from July 1 to August 31, 2026, positioning Julian Opie among modern and contemporary names such as Fernando Botero, Yayoi Kusama and KAWS, as the gallery’s exhibition page states. Opera Gallery Dubai exhibition page
The Dubai presentation includes Opie’s 2005 work Hirofumi with hat, a vinyl-on-wooden-stretcher piece measuring 192 x 151 x 4 centimeters, which appears alongside painting and sculpture across a spectrum from modern figuration to pop-inflected contemporary aesthetics. Opera Gallery Dubai work details
Madrid’s Summer Vibes IV and the wider 2026 exhibition circuit
In parallel, Opera Gallery Madrid’s Summer Vibes IV is on view from June 25 to August 29, 2026, listing Julian Opie among internationally recognized artists such as Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and KAWS, according to the gallery’s exhibition announcement. Opera Gallery Madrid exhibition page
These commercial summer shows follow a dense institutional exhibition circuit for Opie in 2026, documented on his CV with solo presentations at De Brock Gallery in Knokke, Cristea Roberts Gallery in London, Ulsan Art Museum in South Korea and Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru, indicating sustained global demand for his work. Julian Opie CV
All news and background on Julian Opie
Further reporting on Julian Opie’s exhibitions, public installations and market developments can be found in the AD HOC NEWS archive, updated as new projects are confirmed.
The work core in 2026
Julian Opie’s contribution to Summer Vibes and Summer Vibes IV builds on his long-term exploration of reduced, highly stylized figures and landscapes, often rendered in hard-edged line and flat color across media ranging from vinyl to LED installations. Julian Opie CV
His 2005 work Hirofumi with hat in Dubai encapsulates this approach by distilling a walking figure into clean contours and solid fields, translating everyday observation into a graphic language that has become recognizable in public spaces, album covers and museum contexts alike.
Where the artist stands now
Against this backdrop, Julian Opie’s work is on view in Summer Vibes at Opera Gallery Dubai until August 31, 2026, and in Summer Vibes IV at Opera Gallery Madrid until August 29, 2026, as the galleries’ summer schedules confirm.
Key facts on Julian Opie
- Artist: Julian Opie
- Medium / Genre: Painting and sculpture (conceptual figuration)
- Born: 1958, London, United Kingdom
- Place(s) of practice: Studio in London
- Active since: Early 1980s, with one-person exhibitions from 1985
- Key work groups: Walking in the City, Beach Walkers, Angel, Busan Walkers
- Current/last exhibition: Summer Vibes, Opera Gallery Dubai, July 1 - August 31, 2026; Summer Vibes IV, Opera Gallery Madrid, June 25 - August 29, 2026
- Major collections: Tate (London), MoMA (New York), National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne), British Council Collection (London)
- Awards: John Moores Painting Prize (shortlisted, 1993); various public commissions in London and internationally
- Next date: Summer Vibes, Opera Gallery Dubai, through August 31, 2026; Summer Vibes IV, Opera Gallery Madrid, through August 29, 2026
Frequently asked questions about Julian Opie
Where can Julian Opie be seen in summer 2026?
Julian Opie’s works are included in Opera Gallery Dubai’s Summer Vibes from July 1 to August 31, 2026, and Opera Gallery Madrid’s Summer Vibes IV from June 25 to August 29, 2026, as both galleries confirm.
Which work by Julian Opie is shown in Summer Vibes in Dubai?
Opera Gallery Dubai lists his 2005 piece Hirofumi with hat, executed in vinyl on a wooden stretcher measuring 192 x 151 x 4 centimeters, among the exhibited works in Summer Vibes.
How do the Madrid and Dubai shows fit into Julian Opie’s 2026 exhibition program?
According to his CV, the Opera Gallery presentations sit alongside solo exhibitions at De Brock Gallery in Knokke, Cristea Roberts Gallery in London, Ulsan Art Museum in South Korea and Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru in 2026.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
