Emily Floyd<br/> born Australia 1972 <br/> <em>The Dawn</em> 2014<br/> painted aluminium, books<br/> 375.0 x 600.0 x 700.0 cm <br/> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br/> Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, 2014<br/> © courtesy the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery
Cerith WYN EVANS
C=O=D=A (2019-2020)
neon
380.0 x 1049.5 x 540.3 cm (variable) (installation)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 2020
2020.824
© Cerith Wyn Evans, courtesy White Cube, London. Photo: Tom Ross Alicja KWADE
WeltenLinie (2020)
powder-coated stainless steel, mirror, patinated bronze, concrete, wood, burnt wood, fossilised wood, weathered steel, sandstone, stone, marble
585.0 x 1350.5 x 1176.0 cm (installation)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased, NGVWA, 2021
2020.780
© Courtesy the artist and König Galerie, Berlin
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
The Hugh D.T. Williamson 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, Architecture and Design

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

NGV Australia

Martin Grant

28 Mar 25 – 26 Jan 26, ticketed
NGV Australia

Top Arts 2025

14 Mar – 20 Jul 25, free entry
NGV International

Yayoi Kusama

A world-premiere exhibition 15 Dec 24 – 21 Apr 25, ticketed
NGV International

2024 NGV Architecture Commission

Home Truth by Breathe Until 27 Apr, free entry
NGV Australia

REKOSPECTIVE

The Art of Reko Rennie Until 27 Jan, free entry
NGV Australia

2024 MECCA Holiday Collaboration

Natalya Hughes Until Feb, free entry
NGV International

Lee Bul

Untitled Until Jan, free entry

Subscribe to NGV eNews

Subscribe

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

Megacities NGV Triennial NGV Triennial 2023 | Exhibition introduction Hugh Hayden NGV Triennial Agnieszka Pilat NGV Triennial Franziska Furter NGV Triennial Smac McCreanor NGV Triennial Jean Jullien | Rififi: Jean Jullien for Kids NGV Triennial David Shrigley | Melbourne Tennis Ball Exchange NGV Triennial Elvis Richardson Melbourne Now Lou Hubbard Melbourne Now James Lemon Melbourne Now Camille Henrot in conversation With NGV Curator Design and Change with Brodie Neill We Change the World Art and Change with Ryan Presley We Change the World Art and Change with Hoda Afshar We Change the World Design and Change with Yan Huang We Change the World Mindfulness in Taekwondo Asia Society X NGV Adam Pyett on landscape painting Continuing the Impressionists' legacy Salon et Lumière | A Telstra Creativity and Innovation Series presentation Triennial profile | Glenda Nicholls Live in-studio artist visit – Mel O’Callaghan Get to know artists Live in-studio artist visit – Nikos Pantazopoulos Get to know artists Revisiting ‘Ringer (State)’ by Robert Rauschenberg A reflection from Curator Pip Wallis KAWS: The influence of pop-culture Senior Curator Dr Simon Maidment on Brian Donnelly Between Two Worlds Interview with nendo Founder, Oki Sato Richard Mosse NGV Triennial 2017 Del Kathryn Barton The Highway is a Disco Helen Maudsley Our Knowing and Not Knowing

Read

Reimagining Birrarung

National Gallery of Victoria

 Top Arts 2024

John Parkinson

 Bi Warrior Figure, 2022

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran

 Salvador Dalí: Mae West’s lips

Dr Ted Gott

Art Journal

The rainbow flag: a borderless design

Meg Slater

 Paul Yore The Evacuation of Mallacoota

Sophie Prince

 Julian Rosefeldt In the Land of Drought

Katharina Prugger

 Adam Goodrum, Arthur Seigneur Bloom, cabinet

Ewan McEoin