Yayoi Kusama's retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne became the most visited exhibition in Australian history, drawing 570,537 ticket holders from December 2024 to April 2025. The show broke the museum's previous record set by the 2017 exhibition "Van Gogh and the Seasons," which sold 462,262 tickets. Featuring over 200 artworks spanning nine decades, including 10 infinity rooms and early drawings from age nine, the exhibition attracted a diverse audience that included celebrities like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Troye Sivan, and Finneas.
The milestone demonstrates that contemporary artists are beginning to surpass historical heavyweights like Van Gogh in popular appeal, highlighting Kusama's immense cultural capital and visibility. NGV senior curator Wayne Crothers noted that the exhibition drew many first-time gallery visitors, particularly younger people who brought older family members—reversing the traditional pattern. The show's broad appeal, driven by Kusama's signature polka dots, pumpkins, and infinity rooms, underscores the power of accessible, visually striking art to engage the general public and challenge notions of "crass populism."