9 Incredible Art Exhibitions To See In 2025
Art
Installation view of Yayoi Kusama at NGV International, Melbourne, until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photo – Sean Fennessy
Installation view of Yayoi Kusama at NGV International, Melbourne, until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photo – Sean Fennessy
Yayoi Kusama
National Gallery of Victoria
On now, until April 21 2025
If you haven’t already been to see Yayoi Kusama at the National Gallery of Victoria, it should be at the top of your to-do list. Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most celebrated living artists, famous for her polka-dotted pumpkin sculptures, infinity mirror rooms, and interactive art experiences inspired by her inner world.
The immersive showcase features close to 200 works, making it the largest exhibition of Kusama’s work presented in Australia. It’s one not to miss!
Left: Spring pasture (1889) by Camille Pissarro. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Photo – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Right: Embroidery (1889) by Berthe Morisot. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Photo – National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Left: Dance at Bougival (1883) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Picture Fund Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Right: Waterworks at Marly (c. 1876) by Alfred Sisley. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Gift of Miss Olive Simes Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
French Impressionism
National Gallery of Victoria
June 6 – Oct 5 2025
People travel the world to see the work of French painters like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas, but this winter, a collection of awe-inspiring artworks will be on show right here in Melbourne.
In partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, French Impressionism charts the trajectory of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in late nineteenth-century France. You’ll quickly see why it’s respected as one of the most beautiful moments in art history.
Left: Portrait of Madame Cézanne (c 1885) by Paul Cézanne. Museum Berggruen, Neue Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, on loan from the Berggruen family. Photo – Jens Ziehe. Right: Landscape in blue (1917) by Paul Klee. Berggruen family, Museum Berggruen, Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie
National Gallery of Australia
May 31 – September 21 2025
Organised by Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia and Berlin’s Museum Berggruen, Cézanne to Giacometti shines a spotlight on the connection between some of Europe’s most groundbreaking artists and their Australian counterparts.
Explore works by visionaries like Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Paul Klee and Alberto Giacometti that shaped twentieth-century modern art, alongside local artists such as Russell Drysdale, Grace Cossington Smith, John Passmore. It’s also the first time many of these works will be seen down under.
Left: Installation view of Telstra NATSIAA. Photo – Charlie Bliss. Right: Telstra NATSIAA 2024 winner Kamanti by Noli Rictor.
Kartarru (Blue Hills Station, Canning Stock Route Well 24) by Bugai Whyoulter.
2025 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
June 21 2025 – January 2026
As Australia’s richest art award, the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards showcase the very best contemporary art from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from around the country.
If you’ve never been to Darwin, consider this a PSA to plan a trip to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory for the hotly anticipated awards ceremony and the accompanying exhibition of the winners!
Left: Missy With Her Ukulele by Nicola Higgins, shortlisted in the Archibald Prize 2024. Right: Photo – Penelope Clay
Left: Timequake by Craig Handley. Right: Jumpin’ Julie, Yuendumu by Adrian Jangala Robertson.
Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025
Art Gallery of New South Wales
May 10 – August 17 2025
Speaking of prestigious art awards, don’t miss when the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes are revealed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in May.
The Archibald is Australia’s oldest portraiture award, and every year comes with plenty of conversation, controversy, and an exciting exhibition of the best finalists. While you’re there, you can also explore the best landscape paintings of the Wynne Prize, and the subject painting, genre painting or mural projects judged by the Sulman Prize.
Left: Parrtjima 2024. Crowds enjoy ‘Grounded’ featuring the work of Margaret Bloomfield. Photo – Parrtjima. Right: Installation by Keahanie Baker Tunkin. Photo – Parrtjima
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
Mparntwe/Alice Springs
April 4 – April 13 2025
Parrtjima is the only authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind, celebrating the oldest continuous culture on earth through modern, cutting-edge technology.
Held in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, the free 10-day festival features an incredible program of artworks, workshops, music and talks, and light installations cast across the 300-million-year-old natural canvas of the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia. You just have to register to attend!
Left: লীন, Of River and Lost lands by Sarker Protick. Courtesy: The artist and Shrine Empire, Delhi / © Sarker Protick. Right: Where our journey takes us by Kim Ah Sam. Kalkadoon / Kuku Yalanji people. Image courtesy: Outer Space and Kim Ah Sam / © Kim Ah Sam / Photo – Louis Lim
Knit (still from the ‘Performing Textiles’ series). Photo – the artist and Nova Contemporary
The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
On now, until April 27 2025
About 70 artists, collectives and projects from more than 30 countries are currently on show in Brisbane for the 11th edition of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
For the first time, the Triennial includes creators from Saudi Arabia, Timor-Leste and Uzbekistan, while First Nations, minority and diaspora cultures hold a central place. You’re guaranteed to see exciting new art and broaden your horizons about our Asia Pacific neighbours.
Left: A view of the Irish coast (1914) by Margaret Preston. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Purchased with the support of the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales through the Elizabeth Fyffe Bequest 2023, © Margaret Rose Preston Estate/Copyright Agency. Right: Une Australienne (1926) by Hilda Rix Nicholas. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, © Bronwyn Wright.
Left: Oranges and lemons (c 1934) by Alison Rehfisch. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, © Estate of Alison Rehfisch. Right: Miss Gwen Ridley (1930) by Grace Crowley. Purchased 1995 with the assistance of South Australian Government Grant, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890–1940
Art Gallery of New South Wales
11 October 2025 – 1 February 2026
History has long neglected women artists, but Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890–1940 is shining a spotlight on the art and lives of 50 trailblazing women artists from the twentieth century.
The exhibition reveals how an ‘unprecedented wave’ of women artists prevailed against social constraints and left Australia to pursue international professional careers — playing an integral (often unrecognised) role in modernising our nation.
Installation view of Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design at Heide Museum of Modern Art. Photo – Christian Capurro
Installation view of Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design at Heide Museum of Modern Art. Photo – Christian Capurro
Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design
Heide Museum of Modern Art
On now, until March 23 2025
Currently showing at Heide, Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design tells the remarkable story of how Italy became a world leader in creativity, experimentation, and invention.
Get to know the country’s defining architect-designers who rose to prominence in the 1930s-1980s as you explore objects like classic chairs, lamps, homeware, the Olivetti Valentine typewriter, and of course, the iconic Vespa!