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

Sophie Oxenbridge
Senior Curator, Contemporary Art

Amita Kirpalani
Curator, Contemporary Art

Anna Honan
Curator, Contemporary Art

Alisha Davenport
Project Assistant, Contemprary Art

Support Contemporary Art

Donate online today, and enhance the NGV Collection for visitors now and in the future.

Donate

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

NGV International

Triennial 2026

13 Dec 26 – 11 Apr 27, free entry
NGV International

Squish, Twist, Fizz

Mika Rottenberg for Kids 13 Dec 26 – 11 Apr 27, free entry
NGV Australia

Passage

The Art of Atong Atem 30 Oct 26 – 14 Jun 27, free entry
NGV Australia

Plant Life

The Nature of Design 28 Aug 26 – 7 Feb 27, free entry

Events

NGV International
Members Talk Sneak Peek – 2026 NGV Triennial

12–1pm, 14 Nov, ticketed
Online
Educator briefing | Navigating the Triennial with your students Professional Learning for Teachers

4–5pm, 17 Nov, 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 /> sofas, armchairs, chaise longue, footrests, nightstands, chests of drawers, sideboard, dresser, cabinet, TV units, printed canvases, clothes racks and hooks, cat houses, saw horses, mitre-saw stand, vice stand, work bench, tool box, axe, pick-axe, crowbar, hammers, crushing pick, ice-pick handle, wrenches, files, saw blades, hex keys, zip ties, T-square, clothing, purses, vases, cushions, mirrors, lighting gels, colour high definition video, stereo sound<br /> (a-ttt) 530.0 x 750.0 x 1000.0 cm (installation) (ttt) 40 min, 6 sec<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, 2015<br /> 2015.184.a-ttt<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

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

Read

See all
A Plant Life Future

Andy Marks

 Rineke Dijkstra’s Lens on Girlhood

Anna Grubel

 Discombobulating Dreams

Dr Ted Gott

 Eda-mame: Piero Lissoni

Ellen Keillar