For those drawn to the beauty of art and the glamour of high fashion, the National Gallery of Victoria’s annual black-tie event is the most anticipated night of the year. Renowned for its elegance and exclusivity, the prestigious NGV Gala celebrates art, fashion and culture inside Australia’s oldest and most-visited art gallery.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has been a passionate supporter of the NGV since 2007. We were once again the Major Partner of the 2024 NGV Gala, which took place on Saturday, December 14, and are the Principal Partner of the Yayoi Kusama exhibition.

“We are extremely proud to once again be the Principal Partner of NGV in this iconic exhibition,” says Jaime Cohen, managing director of Mercedes-Benz Asia-Pacific and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“We have always seen many synergies and parallels between Mercedes-Benz, a company renowned for design, innovation and craftsmanship, and the way that NGV represents these same values in bringing some of the world’s most prestigious exhibitions to Melbourne.”

Living up to its reputation as the highlight of Melbourne’s social season, the 2024 NGV Gala featured a star-studded guest list, stunning spectacle of fashion, and an exclusive preview of the retrospective exhibition celebrating the groundbreaking work of contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

Unveiling Yayoi Kusama

The unveiling of Yayoi Kusama added a layer of excitement to an already extraordinary evening. Curated by the NGV, the immersive, sensory-driven exhibition is an important and comprehensive retrospective of the Japanese artist’s work. It showcases 200 works – the largest ever exhibition of her work in Australia, featuring painting, sculpture, collage and fashion. 

The artist’s cultural impact cannot be underestimated. Born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929, Yayoi's remarkable affinity for pattern and colour has made her one of the most famous artists in contemporary art. Her playful, immersive art has always blurred the line between artist and audience. From challenging gender norms to anti-war activism, the retrospective of the 95-year-old’s life’s work has been eagerly anticipated by many.

In anticipation of Yayoi Kusama, a five-metre-tall, nine-tonne, spotted yellow pumpkin statue featuring 11 legs was installed in Federation Court as part of the NGV’s permanent collection. 

The coveted Gala offered a first glimpse of the extensive exhibition. A key highlight is the specially constructed infinity rooms that ingeniously use mirrors to create the visual illusion of infinite space. Yayoi's newest installation, Infinity Mirrored Room – My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light (2024), features a series of mirror half-spheres and was designed specifically for the exhibition.

High fashion

On the night of the Gala, guests were greeted on the NGV International Forecourt by the all new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupé – displayed for the first time in Australia – atop a bold pink carpet. The trees lining St Kilda Road were also wrapped in a pink-and-white polka dot artwork, the artist’s signature style.

The guest list featured some Australia’s most influential and iconic figures in film, fashion, media, music and sport – including five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan and his wife Selina, Editor in Chief of Vogue Australia Christine Centenera, actors Joel Edgerton, Julia Fox and Pallavi Sharda, Olympic champion swimmer Ariarne Titmus, and award-winning singer and rapper Genesis Owusu. 

As part of our commitment to fashion, design and the arts, Mercedes-Benz supported emerging Australian fashion designer Jarrod Reid to bring one of his avant-garde designs to the pink carpet. 

The New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based designer, renowned for his experimental silhouettes and statement formal wear, created an iconic tartan look inspired by Scottish folklore. Worn by international model Shanina Shaik, the exuberant and voluminous tartan gown was the fashion highlight of the pink-carpet event. 

Art and auto

In early 2025, Mercedes-Benz Australia will be the Principal Partner of the NGV Kids Summer Festival, running from January 11-17, with storytelling, workshops and interactive exhibitions. A custom Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé will also be on display on the NGV International Forecourt, wrapped in Yayoi's signature polka dots to inspire the next generation of budding artists – and lovers of fine automobiles. 

The Kids Summer Festival is part of Mercedes-Benz’s ongoing commitment to supporting the arts in Australia. 

“Our enduring partnership with NGV enters its 18th year in 2025, and we are delighted to have recently extended this partnership for a further three years,” says Jaime. 

The blockbuster summer exhibition, Yayoi Kusama, will run from December 15 to April 21, 2025.