Yayoi Kusama exhibition breaking records at NGV

NGV director Tony Ellwood said the attendance figures had exceeded expectations, and the gallery would extend its opening hours this week to encourage final visitors.

“When we set out to do this exhibition, we had no idea it was going to be this well received,” Ellwood said.

“The other great message here is that we can see Australians love contemporary art, particularly here in Victoria.”

NGV has announced French Impressionism will be its 2025 Winter Masterpieces exhibition. It was originally staged in 2021 but closed due to lockdowns.

The NGV will also open a new gallery for contemporary arts and design, called The Fox: NGV Contemporary, in the coming years.

Before Kusama, the most popular ticketed event at the NGV was Van Gogh and the Seasons in 2017, which attracted more than 462,262 guests.

With Roy Ward

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