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 Contemporary Art collection encompasses Australian and international art from 1980 to the present day and includes painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and time-based and new media art. With a committed focus on commissioning new works, this collection provides a global context for art in our times, while reflecting and responding to current developments in artistic and cultural practice.

Curators

Ewan McEoin
Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture

Katharina Prugger
Curator, Contemporary Art

Amita Kirpalani
Curator, Contemporary Art

Sophie Oxenbridge
Curator, Contemporary Art

Anna Honan
Curatorial Project Officer, Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture

Ellen Keillar
Curatorial Project Officer, Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

NGV International

Lee Bul

Untitled Until Aug 2025, free entry

Events

NGV International
Ways of Looking | Gender Gaps and Perspectives Professional Learning for Teachers

9.15am–1.15pm, 29 Nov, ticketed

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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/110104"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/87110"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/57353"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/83910"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/106095"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/114217"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/61166"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/112485"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> 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
Matsumoto, plants and the origins of avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama

Akira Shibutami

 Kimono through the ages

Wayne Crothers

 Celebrating 10 years of the Rigg Design Prize

Simone LeAmon

 Gemma Smith Bask

Amita Kirpalani