Yayoi Kusama <em>Dancing Pumpkin</em> 2020. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, 2025<br/> © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photo: Sean Fennessy
Collection

Contemporary Art

The NGV’s Contemporary Art collection includes painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and time-based and new-media art by both Australian and international practitioners from 1980 onwards.

The department has a strong focus on commissioning new work, both individually and through ongoing exhibitions such as Triennial and Melbourne Now, and building a comprehensive snapshot of the global art scene in an ever-changing world.

The Contemporary Art collection will form the foundation of The Fox: NGV Contemporary, a new gallery opening in 2028 purpose-built to display the NGV’s Contemporary Art, and Contemporary Design and Architecture collections.

Contemporary Art contacts

Katharina Prugger
Curator, Contemporary Art

Amita Kirpalani
Curator, Contemporary Art

Sophie Oxenbridge
Curator, Contemporary Art

Anna Honan
Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art

Events

Online
Big Ideas in Contemporary Art Online For Secondary

2–2.45pm, 25 Feb, free, booking required

(3 more times)
Online
Yarning and weaving with Cassie Fisher Patterson

2–3pm, 23 Jun, free, booking required
Online
Using the NGV to Teach | Contemporary Art Professional Learning for Teachers

4–5pm, 21 Oct, free, booking required

Collection Highlights

Marco FUSINATO<br/> <em>Aetheric plexus (Broken X)</em> (2013) <!-- (video still) --><br /> alloy tubing, lights, double couplers, Lanbox LCM DMX controller, dimmer rack, DMX MP3 player, powered speaker, sensor, extension leads, shot bags<br /> 530.0 x 1057.9 x 732.4 cm (variable) (installation)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by Peter Clemenger AM and Joan Clemenger, 2014<br /> 2014.84<br /> © Marco Fusinato/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--110104--> Marco FUSINATO
Aetheric plexus (Broken X)
 (2013) Bill VIOLA<br/> <em>Ocean without a shore</em> 2007 (still)<br /> three-channel colour digital video, sound, plasma screen monitors, audio speakers<br /> 90 min 420.0 x 670.0 x 997.0 cm (variable) (installation)<br /> edition of 3<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by Loti Smorgon AO and Victor Smorgon AC, 2008<br /> 2008.118<br /> © Bill Viola, courtesy James Cohan Gallery, New York Photo: Kira Perov <!--87110--> Bill VIOLA
Ocean without a shore
 2007 Louise BOURGEOIS<br/> <em>Cell (Glass spheres and hands)</em> (1990-1993) <!-- (view 1) --><br /> glass, iron, wood, linoleum, canvas, marble<br /> (a-m) 219.5 x 218.8 x 220.0 cm (installation)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with the assistance of the Leslie Moira Henderson Bequest, 1995<br /> S8.a-m-1994<br /> © Louise Bourgeois (The Easton Fnd.)/VAGA, New York. Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia Sydney <!--57353--> Louise BOURGEOIS
Cell (Glass spheres and hands)
 (1990-1993) Yayoi KUSAMA<br/> <em>Tender are the stairs to heaven</em> (2004) <!-- (view 1) --><br /> synthetic polymer resin mirror, plywood, painted plywood, fibre optic cable, transformer, metal chain, aluminium<br /> 420.4 x 119.8 cm diameter (installation)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, NGV Contemporary with the assistance of Joan and Peter Clemenger AM, 2007<br /> 2007.132<br /> © Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney <!--83910--> Yayoi KUSAMA
Tender are the stairs to heaven
 (2004) Kohei NAWA<br/> <em>PixCell-Red Deer</em> (2012) <!-- (view 1) --><br /> from the <i>Beads</i> series 2000–<br /> Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), glass, (crystal glass), vinyl acetate, acrylic urethane, epoxy resin<br /> 206.5 x 170.8 x 185.2 cm (overall)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 2013<br /> 2013.554<br /> © Kohei Nawa, courtesy Sandwich, Kyoto <!--106095--> Kohei NAWA
PixCell-Red Deer
 (2012)
from the Beads series 2000– Ryan TRECARTIN<br /> Lizzie FITCH<br/> <em>Available sync</em> 2011 <!-- (installation) --><br /> HD video with stereo sound; crowbar; ‘Hemnes’ 3-drawer chest; mobile mitre-saw stand; mirrored cabinet; ‘Benno’ TV unit; wooden sawhorses; steel hammers; crushing pick tool; ‘Pjatteryd’ painting; mirrored cabinets; ‘Hemnes’ 6-drawer chest; claw hammers; ‘Besta Boas’ TV units; axe; driving hammer; ‘Bjursta’ sideboard; clothes; plastic saw horses; ‘Portis’ clothes racks and hooks; ‘Biomster’ vase; ‘Hemnes’ 2-drawer chest; vice stand; ‘Karlstad’ cushions; sledge hammer; cat house (less broken); cat house (more broken); oval mirror (broken); ‘Pjatteryd’ painting (broken); purses; ice pick handle; ‘Stanley’ files; saw blades; pick-axe; allen keys; ‘Hemnes’ 8-drawer dresser; ‘Stockholm’ TV unit; graphite hammer; metal sawhorse; oval mirror; ‘Jonas’ cabinet; pink and gold vase; zip ties; ‘Karlstad’ sofas; ‘Karlstad’ armchairs; Karlstad’ chaise; ‘Karlstad’ footrests; nightstand; vase; T-square; ‘Hemnes’ nightstand; ‘Ovantad’ vase; ‘Workhorse’ workbench; strap wrenches; ‘Hemnes’ nightstand; ‘Cylinder’ vase; lighting gels; night stand; tool box; round vase.<br /> 1000.0 x 750.0 cm (variable)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, 2014<br /> 2015.184<br /> © Lizzie Fitch and Ryan Trecartin, courtesy of Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York <!--114217--> Ryan TRECARTIN Lizzie FITCH
Available sync
 2011 Joan JONAS<br/> <em>Left side right side</em> (1972) (still)<br /> black and white video, sound<br /> 7 min<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1975<br /> EA12-1975<br /> © Joan Jonas. Image courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York <!--61166--> Joan JONAS
Left side right side
 (1972) Ernesto NETO<br/> <em>The island bird</em> (2012) <!-- () --><br /> polypropylene and polyester rope, plastic balls<br /> 426.7 x 780.0 x 1010.0 cm (variable)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, 2015<br /> 2015.41<br /> © Ernesto Neto, courtesy Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York <!--112485--> Ernesto NETO
The island bird
 (2012)

Watch

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Megacities NGV Triennial NGV Triennial 2023 | Exhibition introduction Hugh Hayden NGV Triennial Agnieszka Pilat NGV Triennial

Read

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Akira Shibutami