See the Largest Retrospective Collection of Yayoi Kusama Works Ever on Display at the NGV

Part of Melbourne’s renowned arts precinct, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the location of a remarkable range of art and exhibits, earning it the title of the most-visited gallery in Australia.

Founded in 1861 and situated on a promenade that runs beside the Yarra River, the Southbank institution is the country’s oldest gallery, though its current building (redeveloped in 2003) bears few clues to its historic roots. Ringed by water features and fountains, the gallery’s architecture – including its Waterwall entry – is almost as well known as the artworks it houses. Keith Haring, the late American artist whose distinctive Pop Art is renowned across the globe, was the first to exhibit on the wall, back in 1984.

The NGV continues its impressive legacy with a constant rotation of featured artists. In late 2024, it welcomed one of its most exciting retrospectives yet, the result of a five-year effort to showcase one of the world’s greatest living artists on Australian shores.

What’s on right now?

Until 21 April, 2025 the NGV will host the largest retrospective collection of works by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama ever displayed in Australia. The eponymous exhibition displays almost 200 works from the 95-year-old’s vast, multidisciplinary catalogue, with inclusions spanning painting, fashion, sculpture and more. 

“When you say the name Yayoi Kusama, people might recognise her as the woman who does big pumpkins or the immersive mirror rooms,” says Wayne Crothers, senior curator of Asian art at the NGV. “My great desire was not only to present all that popular material but to use it to guide people through her incredible social and personal story.”

Five years ago, Crothers approached Kusama’s studio in Japan with the idea of a show that delves into her eight decades of work. “This is the first time we’ve given the entire ground floor to a single living artist,” says Crothers, who expects up to 400,000 visitors to attend the show. Highlights include an installation that transforms the NGV’s distinctive Waterwall and the Australian debuts of large-scale works such as Dancing Pumpkin and The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity will Eternally Cover the Universe. Beyond experiencing the 11 mirror rooms – more than have been assembled for any other Kusama exhibition – Crothers is keen for attendees to appreciate the scope and scale of the artist’s life, from her childhood in pre-war Japan to working in 1960s New York alongside Andy Warhol and Donald Judd. 

“We’ve been given amazing access to her archive of photographs, letters and posters, particularly from that New York period, documenting the way she challenges conservative attitudes. There’s so much context on display.”

What else can I see?

The NGV has a permanent collection of more than 75,000 works so there’s plenty to see beyond one-off blockbusters. From evocative drawings by Picasso to Jackson Pollock abstracts, the museum’s four levels contain an extraordinary breadth of art from European, Asian, Oceanic and American origins, with some pieces dating to the 15th century. 

The gallery also runs regular events, talks and workshops, most of which are free to attend.

Make it a weekend

From the new Melbourne Place hotel on Russell Street, it’s an easy stroll to Swanston Street to catch the free tram to the NGV. The boutique stay with 191 rooms and suites is a temple to every shade of terracotta, crowned by a buzzy rooftop bar that serves woodfired eats from breakfast until dinner. Before you head into the NGV, stop by the Tadao Ando-designed MPavilion across St Kilda Road. Not only is it a striking example of the award-winning Japanese architect’s hyper-minimalist style, it also has a coffee cart serving Market Lane beans. For something more substantial, head to Supernormal in Flinders Lane (it recently opened a Brisbane outpost), which plates up Asian-influenced cuisine seven days a week and late into the evening in true Melbourne style. Try the flounder with burnt butter dashi or Gippsland striploin with kimchi and shishito but save room for dessert, even if it’s just a few peanut sesame cookies.

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