Kimono, a significant new exhibition exploring the enduring beauty and global influence of Japan’s most iconic garment, has opened at NGV International.
This comprehensive showcase brings together more than 70 exquisite kimonos spanning from the Edo period to contemporary designs, alongside 150 related artworks including paintings, prints and decorative objects. The exhibition traces the kimono’s evolution from traditional Japanese dress to its profound impact on international fashion.
Highlights include seven newly acquired Edo-period kimonos featuring intricate seasonal motifs, Australian-exclusive contemporary designs by Kyoto-based artist Jotaro Saito, and works by fashion luminaries including Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Alexander McQueen.
The exhibition also presents three elaborate noh theater costumes, offering rare insight into Japan’s performing arts heritage.
Complementary public programs will include curator talks on 14 June examining the kimono’s cultural significance, and specialist workshops on traditional Japanese textile techniques.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director of the NGV, said: “This exhibition celebrates the kimono not just as clothing, but as a canvas for artistic expression that has captivated the world for centuries. Through these extraordinary works, we see how traditional craftsmanship continues to inspire contemporary design.”
The exhibition draws primarily from the NGV’s extensive Asian art collection, supplemented by important international loans. It represents one of the gallery’s most significant explorations of Japanese textile arts to date.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue featuring new scholarship on the kimono’s history and influence.
Kimono is on display from 4 June – 5 October 2025 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Entry fees apply. Tickets and information are available via the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE
