Yayoi Kusama at NGV becomes Australia’s highest attended ticketed art exhibition

April 14, 2025

The National Gallery of Victoria’s Yayoi Kusama exhibition has attracted more than 480,000 people since it opened four months ago and is now being recognised as the highest attended ticketed art exhibition in Australian history.

The visitation smashes the previous most popular ticketed art event – 2017’s Van Gogh and the Seasons – which attracted 462,262 people and pumped more than $51 million into the Victorian economy.

Yayoi Kusama is an icon of art. The 96-year-old Japanese artist is recognised globally for her distinctive and colourful work. The immersive exhibition, which is supported by the Victorian Government’s Major Events Fund, features 200 works and was developed especially for Australian audiences.

NGV Director Tony Ellwood notes “we’re truly overwhelmed by how enthusiastically Victorians and visitors alike have embraced this exhibition – and connected so strongly with Kusama’s work and life story. This milestone is a testament to the enduring impact of Kusama’s work and the growing appeal of contemporary art in Australia.”

The program also has free and family-friendly activities to enjoy over the school holidays, including the children’s gallery Kusama for Kids which features an interactive work The Obliteration Room. Children can also participate in an NGV Easter egg hunt on Thursday 17th April.

With eight days to go before Yayoi Kusama finishes on 21st April, art admirers and families still have time to take it all in – with the exhibition extending its opening hours until midnight for four out of its last five days.

The exhibition is part of a blockbuster pipeline of major cultural events in Victoria, which also includes the Frida Kahlo exhibition in Bendigo, White Night in Ballarat and the LEGO® Star Wars Exhibition at the Melbourne Museum and – all contributing to the state’s record $40 billion visitor economy.

Yayoi Kusama is on display at NGV International until Monday 21st April, with further information and tickets available for the record-breaking exhibition via the NGV website.

Image. Credit: NGV.

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