Blockbuster Sydney Summer Art Exhibition – Takashi Murakami

Takashi Murakami Exhibition at Art Gallery of New South Wales
5 December 2026 - 18 July 2027
Naala Badu, Art Gallery New South Wales

Takashi Murakami is one of the most influential and recognisable contemporary artists of our time. Immerse yourself in a joyful and vibrant Murakami takeover of the Art Gallery’s Naala
Badu building with a major retrospective in the Ainsworth Family Gallery and the global premiere of new work in the atmospheric Nelson Packer Tank.

Developed by the Art Gallery in collaboration with Takashi Murakami, this Sydney-exclusive exhibition reveals the evolution of Murakami’s signature ‘Superflat’ aesthetic – where art, subculture and commercial imagery meld with diverse influences from anime to historical Japanese painting.

Spanning 30 years and more than 150 works, the exhibition traces his practice from the explosive innovations of the 1990s to a suite of new works currently being created in the artist’s studio. Bringing together paintings, sculptures, video and large-scale installations, the exhibition charts the artist’s emergence as a defining figure of contemporary art and popular culture.

A defining force in contemporary visual culture, Murakami is often compared to Andy Warhol and is celebrated 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 brands including Louis Vuitton, Hublot and Dom Perignon.

Exclusive to Sydney, the exhibition is presented at the Art Gallery as part of the 2026–27 Sydney International Art Series. Sydney International Art Series is a NSW Government initiative through its tourism and events agency Destination NSW.

Exhibition tickets: dated, available for entry during gallery opening hours on date of choice

Travel for good: The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a not-for-profit organisation. Proceeds from tours go towards supporting our aim to make art accessible for all through our ambitious exhibitions and programs

Images:
Takashi Murakami Cherry Blossoms Fujiyama JAPAN  2020, ©2020 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved, Installation view of Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum, Kyoto, Japan 2024, photo: Joshua White ©2024 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved; Takashi Murakami, photo: Shin Suzuki ©Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved; Visitors to Naala Badu, Art Gallery New South Wales © Art Gallery New South Wales, photographer: Anna Kucera