Takashi Murakami’s Major Retrospective to Be Held in Australia for the First Time — Exclusive Sydney Exhibition

Takashi Murakami (Photo: Chika Suzuki)

Sydney — The Art Gallery of New South Wales will present the first major retrospective in Australia of Takashi Murakami, a Japanese artist of global acclaim. The exhibition will introduce Murakami’s artistic journey spanning approximately 30 years, including new works making their world debut, positioning him as one of the most influential and widely recognized contemporary artists.

Official Website

https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/takashi-murakami/

Co-curated by the gallery and Murakami himself, the exhibition traces his creative trajectory from innovative experiments in the 1990s to a newly unveiled collection of works. Bringing together paintings, sculptures, video, and large-scale installations, it illustrates Murakami’s rise as a defining figure at the intersection of contemporary art and pop culture.

The exhibition opens on December 5, 2026, at the Art Gallery of NSW, as part of the 2026–27 Sydney International Art Series, presented exclusively in Sydney. The Sydney International Art Series is an initiative by the NSW Government delivered through its tourism and events agency, Destination NSW.

The exhibition will be held in the Eanrsforth Family Gallery within the Naala Badu building and the uniquely atmospheric Nelson Packer Water Tank. Within these expansive spaces, visitors will trace the evolution of Murakami’s signature 'Superflat' aesthetic — a bold fusion of high art, subculture, and commercial imagery, influenced by everything from anime to classical Japanese painting. Early paintings reflect his search for a visual language responsive to Japan’s rapid globalization, while later works evolve into vivid, sometimes unsettling worlds composed of cartoonish characters, smiling flowers, and mythological figures rendered in intense, feverish scenes.

A highlight of the exhibition will be new works currently being created in Murakami’s studio. These pieces offer a rare glimpse into his ongoing creative process and its deep connections to Japanese art history. This fusion of past and present vividly embodies the spirit of Murakami’s practice — one that continuously balances renewal and continuity, weaving together tradition and technology, humor and critique, playfulness and profound contemplation.

Takashi Murakami, Cherry Blossoms Fujiyama JAPAN (detail), 2020, Acrylic paint, platinum leaf, gold leaf / canvas (aluminum frame), 50 × 212.5 cm, © 2020 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Mojo Mathers, Director of the Art Gallery of NSW, said: 'Takashi Murakami’s singular vision has profoundly reshaped our understanding of contemporary visual culture. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to step directly into his joyous creative world and experience the full scope of his astonishing artistic universe.

We deeply value our long-standing relationship with Mr. Murakami and are delighted to co-curate this exhibition. We are proud to present it not only to audiences across Australia but also to international visitors.'

Born in Japan in 1962, Takashi Murakami is one of the most important contemporary artists today. Often compared to Andy Warhol, Murakami is widely known for high-profile collaborations with cultural icons such as Issey Miyake, Virgil Abloh, Marc Jacobs, Pharrell Williams, BLACKPINK, NewJeans, and Billie Eilish, as well as brand partnerships with Louis Vuitton, Hublot, and Dom Pérignon. Holding a PhD in Nihonga (Japanese painting), Murakami fuses deep knowledge of pop culture with Japan’s religious beliefs, folk traditions, and art history, reimagining Edo-period supernatural beings for the 21st century.

The Sydney International Art Series, presented in collaboration with the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, brings exceptional works by globally celebrated artists exclusively to Sydney. As part of the 2026–27 series, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia will present 'Philippe Parreno: 5 Moons' from November 21, 2026, to April 26, 2027.

Sydney International Art Series Official Website

https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/programs/sias/

The Takashi Murakami exhibition will be held exclusively in Sydney at the Art Gallery of NSW from December 5, 2026, to July 18, 2027. Tickets will be available soon. Discounted tickets are available for Art After Hours on Wednesday nights (two for the price of one), and an Art Pass will grant access to all exhibitions in the 2026–27 Sydney International Art Series at both the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

For updates and advance ticket information, please subscribe to the Artmail e-newsletter.

https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/takashi-murakami/ticket-presales/

Media Contact:

Sarah Shields

Head of Communications

+61 408 283 091

sarah.shields@ag.nsw.gov.au

Stephanie Pirrie

Communications Specialist

+61 430 517 722

stephanie.pirrie@ag.nsw.gov.au

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