The major exhibition ‘Presence’ by Berlin-based Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson is now on display at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Running from 6 December 2025 through 12 July 2026, this significant show is exclusive to Brisbane. Eliasson, globally renowned for installations that challenge how we perceive ourselves and the world around us, has previously created works such as transporting melting Arctic ice to European capitals and installing an all-encompassing ‘sun’ in the cavernous Turbine Hall at London’s Tate Modern.

‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’ occupies GOMA’s ground floor with major installations, sculptures, and photo series. The exhibition invites visitors through shifting environments, including immersive works that manipulate light and colour and a meticulously constructed riverbed. Informed by Eliasson’s expansive interests in architecture, design, science, the environment, psychology, and wellbeing, the work investigates how we give shape to our experience of the world. The exhibition embodies the artist’s belief in the audience as co-creators, with the understanding that each visitor will experience the artwork uniquely as they move through and interact with the exhibition. The show encourages visitors to explore light, land, and life, and to reflect on how they connect with one another and the world around them, reminding us that we each perceive the world differently, even when standing side by side.

The exhibition features iconic early works alongside new commissions. Iconic pieces brought together for ‘Presence’ include the shimmering, touchable rainbow Beauty 1993 and the immense literal landscape of Riverbed 2014. Also featured is QAGOMA’s much-loved interactive installation, the ever-evolving Lego city of The cubic structural evolution project 2004.

Three major new works were created specifically for the exhibition, including Presence 2025. The new polarisation works, Your negotiable vulnerability seen from two perspectives 2025 and Your Truths 2025, utilize warped colour and shape to focus our attention on perception itself.

To enhance the visit, ‘Presence’ is complemented by QAGOMA’s interactive mobile companion. This companion includes a sense trail that offers gentle sensory prompts for selected artworks, an exhibition guide with curatorial insights, images, and behind-the-scenes videos. An expansive publication accompanies ‘Presence’, produced in collaboration with Eliasson and his studio, featuring contributions from celebrated writers Ceridwen Dovey and Robert Macfarlane. Visitors receive access to the mobile companion immediately upon purchasing their ticket to ‘Presence’, suggesting they bring their headphones to fully enhance their visit.