NGV announces Yayoi Kusama retrospective as next summer’s blockbuster exhibition

The National Gallery of Victoria’s next summer blockbuster exhibition is the world-premiere exhibition of contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama which is anticipated to attract thousands of Victorians and visitors.

The exhibition will be the largest retrospective of the artist’s works ever presented in Australia – supported by the Victorian Government.

The exhibition will transform the entire ground floor of NGV International with the artist’s bold and bright artworks of epic size and scale – in another addition to Victoria’s jam-packed major events calendar.

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 exclusive to Melbourne 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.

This globally significant exhibition will be bolstered with a dedicated kids gallery and the return of NGV Friday Nights which will attract even more visitors to the stand-out cultural event this summer.

Yayoi Kusama will run from 15th December 2024 to 21st April 2025.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks noted "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.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos added “this special exhibition will attract visitors from around Australia and beyond – boosting our businesses and supporting local jobs. Visually spectacular and creatively executed beyond the gallery walls, Yayoi Kusama will show the world the how Victoria is ‘Every bit different’.”

NGV Director Tony Ellwood shared “there are few artists working today with the global presence of Yayoi Kusama. This world-premiere NGV-exclusive exhibition is the largest ever presented in our region, allowing local audiences and visitors alike the chance to experience Kusama’s practice in deeper and more profound ways than ever before.

“We are indebted to Yayoi Kusama and her studio for their passion and collaboration on this special project. Without the artist’s personal dedication to this exhibition – and excitement to share her worldview with Australian audiences – none of this would be possible.”

For more information visit ngv.vic.gov.au