Tag: melbourne art

Experience the Magic of NGV Friday Nights this summer

People audience NGV gallery

This summer, Melbourne’s NGV is turning up the heat with NGV Friday Nights, a spellbinding after-hours celebration of art, music and food and Yayoi Kusama. Running for 18 weeks at NGV International, the series takes its inspiration from Yayoi Kusama, one of the world’s most iconic contemporary Japanese artists. With a kaleidoscopic combination of Kusama’s breathtaking works, live DJ performances, and expertly curated dining, this is an experience you won’t want to miss. Step into Kusama’s World At the heart of NGV Friday Nights is the highly anticipated Yayoi Kusama exhibition, the most comprehensive display of her work Australia has seen. Spanning an extraordinary eight-decade career, this blockbuster exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in Kusama’s vibrant visions of colour, form, and infinity. Highlighting the exhibition are Kusama’s mesmerising infinity mirror rooms, where reflections multiply endlessly to draw you into her unique artistic dimension. Adding even more magic to these after-dark events are two standout installations. The monumental Dancing Pumpkin (2020) in Federation Court captures Kusama’s playful creativity, while the recreated installation of Narcissus Garden (1966/2024) beckons visitors to lose themselves in its hypnotic beauty. Dining in Style – the Martin Benn Residency If feasting with flair is your thing, then you’ll want to book a spot at the NGV Garden Restaurant. This summer, acclaimed chef Martin Benn—renowned for his innovative Asian-inspired menus—takes the reins. Famous for his time as the chef-owner of Sepia, Benn is set to deliver a stunning menu that fuses seasonal Australian ingredients with Japanese flavours. This is a culinary experience… Read More

Suna Fujita, LOEWE & Melbourne Art Fair to exhibit works

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In an exciting fusion of art and fashion, Melbourne Art Fair has announced a groundbreaking partnership with LOEWE, the esteemed luxury fashion brand renowned for its dedication to craftsmanship since 1846. This collaboration brings to life an exquisite preview of Jonathan Anderson’s renewed partnership with the Kyoto-based ceramist duo, Suna Fujita, marking a world-first exhibition in Australasia. The LOEWE x Suna Fujita collection made its debut with an intimate showcase at LOEWE’s Melbourne Collins Street store, offering an exclusive viewing experience of twenty whimsical ceramic pieces. These delicate works, celebrated for their intricate hand-painted scenes featuring ocean creatures and cosmic animals, seamlessly blend artistry with everyday function, transforming accessories and ready-to-wear items into enchanting works of art. Fair Director Melissa Loughnan expressed her enthusiasm for this creative union, stating, “This partnership is a reflection of Melbourne Art Fair and LOEWE’s shared commitment to supporting living artists and creatives, and an exciting precursor to the 18th edition of the Fair, which promises to be one of our most dynamic and anticipated showcases yet.” The collaboration not only highlights the playful essence of Suna Fujita’s ceramics but also underscores the vibrant art scene that Melbourne Art Fair champions. Launching today, the LOEWE x Suna Fujita collection is available both in stores and online at loewe.com, continuing until 29th December 2024. This artistic venture paves the way for the 18th edition of Melbourne Art Fair, set to take place from 20-23 February 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fair will present a remarkable assembly of… Read More

Something new for you at Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne

Potter Museum art

As the autumn leaves give way to the crisp, clear days of May, Melbourne will soon play host to a cultural renaissance with the highly anticipated reopening of the Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne. Set to coincide with Reconciliation Week on May 30, 2025, this revitalised flagship museum is ready to welcome visitors once again, unveiling a new era of artistic and cultural discourse. Stepping back into the limelight, the Potter Museum emerges with a grand new entrance designed by the renowned Wood Marsh Architects, showcasing the transformative power of architecture in enhancing cultural experiences. This redevelopment, made possible through the generous support of The Ian Potter Foundation and Lady Primrose Potter AC, promises not just a facelift, but an expansion of space dedicated to the museum’s acclaimed collection-based learning programs. At the heart of the reopening celebrations is the groundbreaking exhibition, “65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art,” a title that nods to the vast and rich tapestry of Indigenous art in Australia. This exhibition promises to be a vibrant celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, featuring more than 400 artworks, including significant public and private loans as well as seven major new commissions by leading contemporary First Nations artists. Curated by the esteemed Professor Marcia Langton AO, alongside Ms Judith Ryan AM and Ms Shanysa McConville, this exhibition delves into the seismic shift in the recognition and appreciation of Indigenous art in the Australian and global art scenes. Professor Marcia Langton articulates the exhibition’s provocative title… Read More

NGV Melbourne brings a new take to Pharaoh exhibition

Egypt Museum NGV Friday Nights Pharaoh Michael Pham 4

Every Friday night, a rotating program of performance residencies will surprise and delight with unique musical experiences in the Great Hall. Inspired by the Pharaoh exhibition, each week audiences will be taken on a different musical journey, with a selection of music and performances, from jazz to cabaret, to classical, funk and blues.

Unlocking the Beauty in Grey: Eser Gündüz’s New Exhibition

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Eser Gündüz, the Turkish contemporary expressionist artist, is set to captivate art enthusiasts once again with his upcoming exhibition titled ‘This is a Grey World, Nothing Good Happens Here’. The showcase, running from 16th to 28th February, is a profound exploration of the relationship between nature and urban life, challenging the conventional perception of the color grey and inviting viewers to uncover the hidden beauty within. Through 17 new works, Gündüz seeks to redefine the notion that the world is dull, desolate, and monotonous. The color grey, often associated with negative connotations in modern society, becomes a canvas for the artist to convey a powerful message of hope and beauty. Drawing inspiration from his recent move from urban Provence to rural France, Gündüz introduces a muted color palette that deftly captures the coexistence of nature and urban life. In a departure from his previous vibrant creations, the artist’s latest pieces reveal an innovative technical element, incorporating electronic components that illuminate his signature resin frames. This serves as a symbolic representation of the illumination of darkness, urging viewers not to be deceived by the mundane, but to seek out the hidden beauty that lies within. Gündüz’s journey to uncover the beauty in grey has been profoundly influenced by his newfound connection to nature. By witnessing its constant renewal despite human impact, he has embraced a new aesthetic that celebrates the harmony between the natural world and industrial elements. His works feature striking depictions of nuclear reactors and factory chimneys, emphasizing the inherent beauty that exists within… Read More

Melbourne Design Fair 2023 launches at Melbourne

Melbourne Design Fair woman art

Design enthusiasts in Melbourne are in for a treat, as the annual Melbourne Design Fair has launched at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and will run until May 21. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever before, featuring the work of more than 150 designers across 60+ presentations from all Australian states and territories. Visitors will have the chance to view and purchase one-of-a-kind, limited edition, and small batch design production, including furniture, lighting, and contemporary jewelry. The fair showcases some of the most cutting-edge designs from established and emerging designers, providing an impressive range of designs that appeal to both collectors and the general public alike. The Melbourne Design Fair features several feature group presentations, including Agency, ALM, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Craft Victoria, C. Gallery, Leonard Joel, MARS Gallery, Modern Times, OIGALL PROJECTS, Origine, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Stanley Street Gallery, Broached Commissions, and Sullivan+Strumpf, among others. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of exciting and innovative designs from these groups. One of the highlights of this year’s Melbourne Design Fair is the new section dedicated to contemporary jewelry presentations. The fair also includes an NGV-curated exhibition, FOCUS, which brings attention to the work of five accomplished Australian female designers and makers. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about their creative processes and inspirations. In addition to the exhibitions, the TALKS series, presented by Major Partner Mercedes-Benz, offers visitors the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of the culture of collectible design while learning how… Read More

Melbourne’s Affordable Art Fair is back this September

View from up top 2 inc Art to Art and Fenton and Fenton

Returning to Melbourne this September 2022, Uniting trusted galleries with avid aesthetes, the famed Affordable Art Fair aims to help people discover new artists and galleries and demystify the conventional art buying experience with highly visible and relatively affordable pricing. For a few days this September (1-4), the Fair will collate myriad art forms including painting, sculpture, photography and limited-edition prints. With something to suit all budgets, prices will start from $100 and cap at $10,000. Similar to the Affordable Art Fair of 2021, buyer’s will walk away with select pieces or arrange for delivery of larger or bulkier buys for their homes, places of work and collections. Exhibiting galleries include the coveted Martinich&Carran on Victoria’s Surf Coast, Prahran’s Fenton & Fenton, Studio Gallery founded by Melbourne artist Kerry Armstrong, and all-female collective, Tits & Co. Leading Australian online gallery Bluethumb will return for its second year with M Artist Collective making its Fair debut alongside JUMBLED and BlackCat Gallery. London’s Rebecca Hossack Gallery (RHG) headlines the list of international galleries with The Gallery Eumundi travelling from Queensland. The full list of exhibiting galleries can be viewed on the Affordable Art Fair website.

What to see at the NGV: Summer exhibitions of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat

From 1 December, the National Gallery of Victoria will have two of the most influential artists of the 20th century on show. Until 13 April 2020 and exclusive to Melbourne, the NGV will present more than 300 works in an exhibition that will offer new insights into Haring and Basquiat’s unique visual languages and the many intersections between their lives, practices and ideas.         This of course off the back of the NGV’s winter Friday Night Series, which in 2019 stars a tonne of leading and emerging singers and performers, really rounding out what the Gallery has to offer. Oh, and plenty of dumplings, courtesy of Hutong Dumpling Bar. “We felt there’s been enough time to pause and reflect on just how powerful their (Haring and Basquiat’s) aesthetic has become worldwide, particularly in Melbourne, which is famed for its street art scene,” said Tony Elwood, director of the NGV. The Gallery is known for their leading and renowned exhibits, which this year and to round-out summer, will highlight the artists’ idiosyncratic imagery, radical ideas and complex socio-political commentary that changed the art world of the 1980s.      See more about the exhibitions on now and in summer at the NGV at the Gallery’s website.