From polka-dotted trees to giant dancing pumpkins, NGV is awash with colour and excitement this summer with the arrival of the global exclusive Yayoi Kusama exhibition.
Featuring 200 works and spanning the 8-decade career of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, the NGV’s latest blockbuster exhibition includes sculpture, painting, collage, fashion and films alongside immersive artworks, including the global premiere of Kusama’s new awe-inspiring infinity mirror room.
The exhibition also includes the Australian debut of Dancing Pumpkin, 2020, a towering five-metre-tall yellow-and-black polka-dotted bronze sculpture, which can be viewed for free daily in the NGV foyer as part of the exhibition’s broader program.
Other free elements include Kusama artworks surrounding the gallery on St Kilda Road, on the NGV Waterwall and the Great Hall. There is also a dedicated, and free, children’s gallery Kusama for Kids which will feature a colourful and interactive installation and activities for budding artists.
In January, the Kusama exhibition will also be a focal point for the free NGV Kids Summer Festival, which will take over NGV venues in Melbourne, and the NGV Kids on Tour program which will present free family-friendly activities at more than 150 venues across regional and outer metropolitan areas.
The NGV will also present a range of public programs during the exhibition, including NGV Friday Nights which will see the NGV open until late with food and live music alongside the exhibition.
Yayoi Kusama is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road until 21 April 2025, with further information and tickets available via the NGV website.