The biggest and most significant collection of masterworks to leave New York City’s prestigious Museum of Modern Art is coming to the National Gallery of Victoria.
Visiting the famed gallery during his official tour of the US, Premier Daniel Andrews joined MoMA Director Glenn D Lowry and NGV Director Tony Ellwood to announce Victoria had secured 150 works from MoMA’s collection for the National Gallery of Victoria’s 2018 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces.
The MoMA, Museum of Modern Art exhibition will present works never before seen in Australia from some of history’s most influential artists including Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Marcel Duchamp, Henri Matisse and Jackson Pollock.
The National Gallery of Victoria will host the exhibition from 8 June to 7 October 2018, including Van Gogh’s Portrait of Joseph Roulin, Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl and Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel.
The most ambitious instalment yet of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, it will fill the entire ground floor of the NGV and is expected to attract thousands of interstate and overseas visitors.
MoMA is arguably the foremost museum of modern art in the world. Its comprehensive collection sees more than 3 million visitors through its doors every year.
The last MoMA collection displayed at the NGV was the William S Paley Collection which travelled between Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in 1996.
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces is one of Victoria’s hallmark programs, attracting more than five million people to some of our most beloved cultural institutions, and generating more than $475 million in benefit to the state. Since it began in 2004, the series has featured old masters, music icons and great works of modern art.
Victoria’s creative industries sector employs more than 210,000 Victorians and generates $23 billion for the economy.
Quotes attributable to the Premier Daniel Andrews
“Picasso, Van Gogh and Matisse, only in Melbourne will you see this roll call of the greatest names in contemporary art – it’ll be an experience not to miss.”
“MoMA is one of the most prestigious modern art galleries in the world and its partnership with the NGV is testament to Victoria’s reputation as an international cultural destination.”
“Many of these works have never been to Australia, they rarely leave New York. This exhibition will bring record crowds to the NGV from around the world – that’s great for keeping our bars, restaurants and hotels full, and great for jobs.”
Quotes attributable to NGV Director Tony Ellwood
“This exciting exhibition will showcase an unparalleled collection of modern and contemporary art and design. We are delighted to be working with MoMA to bring such an extraordinary selection of works to Melbourne.”
“Our visitors will be able to experience first-hand the momentous change and creativity in the development of modern art, and consequently appreciate contemporary art and design with greater understanding.”
Quotes attributable to MoMA Director Glenn D. Lowry
“MoMA’s mission is to share our story of modern and contemporary art with the widest possible audience, to encourage the understanding and enjoyment of the art of our time.”
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to share these important works from nearly every area of our collection with the NGV and the many visitors who will take advantage of this rare opportunity.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020