Yayoi Kusama's immersive art takes centre stage in Melbourne

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is set to host a world-premiere exhibition showcasing the largest-ever collection of Yayoi Kusama's iconic immersive artworks. Opening on December 15, the exhibition will feature ten signature installations, including the global debut of her latest infinity mirror room, Infinity Mirrored Room–My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light, 2024. This installation invites visitors to step into an endless celestial universe, crafted through Kusama's masterful use of mirrors.

Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events said, “Having Yayoi Kusama’s works at the NGV is yet another example of how Melbourne’s blockbuster calendar of major events continues to drive tourism, boost local businesses and cement our reputation as Australia’s cultural capital. It adds to a fantastic pipeline of events which includes the Boxing Day Test, the Australian Open and Always Live – events deliver incredible experiences for visitors and locals alike.” 

Highlights include The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe, 2019, with six-meter-tall, polka-dotted tendrils, and Dots Obsession, a mirrored room exploring Kusama's fascination with infinity through her signature dots. Visitors can also experience her celebrated works like Chandelier of Grief and Love is Calling. Interactive installations such as Flower Obsession and The Obliteration Room invite participation, transforming spaces through collective creativity.

Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV said, "To have assembled ten of Yayoi Kusama’s spectacular immersive environments in a single location is an ambitious and logistical feat never-before-attempted anywhere else in the world. These iconic installations are the culmination of more than eight decades of constant artistic innovation, creating new and never-before-seen ways to express Kusama’s unique perspective of the world around us. Only in Melbourne will audiences have the opportunity to experience so many of Kusama’s large-scale works in one place."

Spanning Kusama’s seven-decade career, this retrospective also includes painting, sculpture, and fashion, offering a profound glimpse into the visionary world of one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Admission includes a free children's exhibition, Kusama for Kids.