Victorians and visitors are set to flock in their thousands to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) this summer, with a world-premiere exhibition of contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama set to marvel audiences in the largest retrospective of the artist’s works ever presented in Australia.
Creative Industries minister Colin Brooks announced the next summer blockbuster exhibition, which will transform the entire ground floor of NGV International with the artist’s bold and bright artworks of epic size and scale – in another epic addition to Victoria’s jam-packed major events calendar.
“This summer’s Yayoi Kusama exhibition at NGV will be a must-see experience – it’s the largest exhibition of works by the iconic Japanese artist ever to be held in Australia, and the only place you’ll be able to experience it is in Melbourne,” he said.
Celebrated for her use of vibrant colour, patterns, and polka dots in striking works, Kusama has captivated audiences in sold out exhibitions around the world, with the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo booked out months in advance.
The exhibition, Yayoi Kusama, will showcase more than 180 artworks including never-before seen work alongside much loved pieces spanning Kusama’s eight-decade career across painting, sculpture, collage, fashion, video and installation.
It will also feature an impressive assembly of Kusama’s signature immersive rooms, including the global unveiling of the artist’s most recent infinity mirror room. Kusama’s signature pumpkin works will also be on show throughout the exhibition – including a towering five-metre-tall bronze sculpture newly acquired by the NGV, Dancing Pumpkin.
Yayoi Kusama will run from December 15 2024 to 21 April 2025.
Information: ngv.vic.gov.au
