National Gallery of Victoria | NGV

The institution is spread across two flagship venues: NGV International on St Kilda Road in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, which houses global collections, and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square, dedicated entirely to Australian art, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander work. A new contemporary-focused site, The Fox: NGV Contemporary, is slated to open later in the decade in the nearby arts precinct, further expanding the NGV’s role in international contemporary art.

NGV International, designed by Sir Roy Grounds and redeveloped by Mario Bellini, is known for its bluestone façade and water wall entrance, and for encyclopaedic displays that range from ancient and classical art to modern and contemporary movements across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania.

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, designed by Lab Architecture Studio, presents a comprehensive view of Australian art from colonial painting to contemporary practice, with a strong focus on First Nations artists. Across both sites the NGV stages major temporary exhibitions, including large-scale international loan shows, fashion and design blockbusters, architecture and photography surveys, and thematic projects drawn from its own holdings. Free general entry, extensive public programs, and educational initiatives make the NGV a central civic institution in Melbourne’s cultural life.ngv.

Art and Exhibitions at National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

The National Gallery of Victoria offers a broad spectrum of art and exhibitions, from historical collections to cutting-edge contemporary practice. Collection strengths include European old masters, Asian art, decorative arts and design, photography, prints and drawings, and a major Australian collection featuring significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works. The NGV established one of the first dedicated photography departments in a public gallery worldwide, and its holdings continue to expand across media such as painting, sculpture, video, installation, and fashion.

Displays are organised across permanent collection galleries at both NGV International and NGV Australia, complemented by a busy program of temporary exhibitions that bring international loans and new commissions to Melbourne. Recurring series such as the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces and ambitious thematic exhibitions, including recent projects on queer histories and design, position the NGV as a key site for large-scale curatorial experimentation in the region. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria’s website for current exhibition information. You can also follow National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) on Ocula to be regularly updated when exhibitions are announced by the institution.

Recent exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria have explored topics ranging from fashion retrospectives and global design histories to large-scale surveys of contemporary Australian and First Nations art. Upcoming exhibitions include major international collaborations and collection-based projects across NGV International and NGV Australia, with editors able to update specific titles, artists, and closing dates as programs are confirmed.

Visiting National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

The National Gallery of Victoria operates across two main sites: NGV International at 180 St Kilda Road in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square, a short walk away across the Yarra River. Both venues are within easy reach of Melbourne’s central business district by foot, tram, train, or bicycle, and are integrated into a broader cultural precinct that includes performing arts venues, public spaces, and riverfront promenades. General entry to the permanent collection at both sites is free, while some major temporary exhibitions and special events require paid tickets.

NGV International and NGV Australia are typically open daily from 10am to 5pm, with occasional extended evening hours for programs such as NGV Friday Nights; they are usually closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Visitors can expect security screening and cloakroom facilities on arrival, with highlights tours and family-friendly resources available on site. Both galleries provide accessible entrances, lifts, and facilities for visitors with mobility or access needs, and additional information is available in advance through visitor services. For the latest details on opening hours, ticketed exhibitions, access, and programming, visitors should check the official National Gallery of Victoria website before planning their visit.

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