Melbourne is simply bursting with art galleries and exhibitions. Spend a day strolling along a gallery and admiring incredible artworks and installations. Some of these are blockbuster events, and some of these are free to check out. Whether you’re looking for something to do now, or for something to look forward to in the future, here are some exciting art exhibitions for you to discover in Melbourne.
Table Of Contents
Current exhibitions
1. Triennial
When: Until April 7
After delighting us in 2017 and 2020, NGV Triennial is back in Melbourne for its third iteration. This incredible exhibition has taken over all floors of NGV International, showcasing works by 120 artists, designers and collectives, including Yoko Ono, David Shrigley and fashion label Schiaparelli. Check out painting, sculpture, robotics, fashion, multimedia and interactive art installations, and marvel at over 25 world-premiere projects commissioned by the NGV.
180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006
2. Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature
When: Until April 14
A sensory exhibition from London-based experiential art collective, Marshmallow Laser Feast, is now on display at ACMI. Explore five digital artworks and gain a deeper understanding of the natural world and our place within it. Evolve from droplets of water into ancient trees. Journey from tiny cells to fearsome black holes, and feel a connection to the world around you in this immersive experience.
📍Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
3. Rain Room
When: Until March 31
Walk through a rain storm without getting wet at the interactive installation, Rain Room. This immersive experience by Random International is one of the world’s most famous contemporary works. It merges art, technology and nature together, in a 100 square metre space of continuous rainfall. The rain responds to your presence and movement, so you can walk through the experience without getting soaked.
📍Corner Jackson &, Acland St, St Kilda VIC 3182
4. Surrealist Lee Miller
When: Until February 25
Visit Heide Museum of Modern Art and check out the work of American-born photographer, Lee Miller. A surrealist before the movement even had a name, Miller’s work spanned across a wide range, from the horrors of the Second World War to the world of her creative circle, which include Picasso and more. Her son, Antony Penrose, curated 100 photographs for the exhibition, Surrealist Lee Miller.
📍7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen VIC 3105
5. 11th Koorie Art Show
When: Until February 25
In this free exhibition at the Koorie Heritage Trust, you’ll see over 100 creative pieces from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in Victoria. In the 11th Koorie Art Show, you’ll see paintings, drawings, weavings, ceramics, carvings and digital media. All of the works presented are available for sale.
📍Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation Square, Flinders St &, Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
6. Queer PHOTO
When: Until March 24
Queer PHOTO is a first-of-its-kind collaboration, with artist commissions of large-scale free outdoor artworks, gallery exhibitions and performances. Presented by Midsumma and PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography, this showcase of artworks from LGBTQIA+ artists will take over seven locations in Melbourne’s west, from Footscray to Werribee. Check out 14 exhibitions and 30 interactive events from 17 artists.
📍Melbourne’s west
7. From the other side
When: Until March 3
This exhibition from the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art looks at horror through a feminist, queer and non-binary lens. From the other side features work from 19 Australian and international artists, with contemporary and historical works displayed alongside new commissions.
📍 111 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006
8. Nadine Christensen: Around
When: Until April 7
Check out 70 paintings from Melbourne-based artist Nadine Christensen at Buxton Contemporary. This exhibition explores the nature of painting, as well as its complex legacy, spanning across two decades. You’ll also find new commissions and sculptural works.
📍Corner Southbank Boulevard &, Dodds St, Southbank VIC 3006
9. Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition
When: Until February 25
Learn all about Princess Diana from the perspective of royal photographers, Anwar Hussein and his two sons. Through audio guides, you’ll hear all about what happened behind-the-scenes as the photographers discuss what they heard and saw. As you journey through the Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition, you’ll see larger-than-life images, murals and art installations. Get your tickets here.
📍28 Clarendon St, Southbank, VIC 3006
10. Brent Harris: Surrender & Catch
When: Until March 11
Explore the world of senior contemporary Australian artist Brent Harris. Co-presented with the Art Gallery of South Australia, Brent Harris: Surrender & Catch features over 100 paintings, drawings, studies and prints. Spanning across four decades, these works use both humour and the grotesque to examine the artist’s complex feelings. Find it at the TarraWarra Museum of Art in the Yarra Valley.
📍 313 Healesville-Yarra Glen Rd, Healesville VIC 3777
11. Pt. Leo Estate Sculpture Park
When: Daily
Take a stroll through Pt. Leo Estate Sculpture Park and see 60 sculptures from Australian and international artists. You might recognise names like KAWS, George Rickey, Julian Opie and, most recently, Yayoi Kusama.
📍3649 Frankston – Flinders Rd, Merricks VIC 3916
Future exhibitions
1. Steve McCurry. ICONS
When: From late February
Steve McCurry is an award-winning photographer, famous for capturing images that encompass conflicts, endangered cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary society. If you might not recognise his name, you’ll at least know some of his most recognisable photographs, including the striking image, “Afghan Girl”, which featured on the cover of National Geographic. In the exhibition, ICONS, you’ll see over 100 large-format photographs, and learn the story behind the images. You’ll find it at Seaworks Maritime Museum in Williamstown.
2. Not Natural
When: February 17 to June 29
Just because you can, does that mean you should? That’s what Science Gallery Melbourne will explore with their exhibition, Not Natural. See speculative local and international projects that tackle a whole range of possibilities and ethical dilemmas and examine the friction between natural and artificial systems, such as AI.
📍114 Grattan St, Parkville VIC 3052
3. Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius
When: From March
Take a journey back in time, and explore the genius of Leonardo da Vinci at The Lume. Step into the 3,000m² space, and watch some of the worlds most famous artworks come to life, like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. There will also be “machine inventions” on loan from the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome, as well as a 360º replica of the Mona Lisa painting.
📍5 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006
4. PHOTO 2024: International Festival of Photography
When: March 1 to 24
Australia’s largest photography festival is coming back to Melbourne for its third edition. Look forward to 100 free exhibitions and outdoor installations across seven Festival Precincts in Melbourne, as well as five cities in regional Victoria. PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography will feature over 150 contemporary photographers and artists from Australia and around the world. The biennale will take over ACMI, Fed Square, State Library Victoria and more.
📍Victoria
5. Pharoah
When: June 14 – October 6
Journey through three thousand years of ancient Egyptian art and culture at the NGV Winter Masterpieces exhibition for 2024, Pharaoh. This ambitious partnership with the British Museum will bring over 500 works to Melbourne, including monumental sculpture, architecture, jewellery, coffins and more. Many of these works will be displayed in Australia for the first time.
📍180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006