Jeff Koons and Jeffrey Gibson announced for Visiting Creatives Program

The National Gallery of Australia has announced internationally acclaimed artists Jeff Koons and Jeffrey Gibson as the first participants in its new AFNGA: Visiting Creatives Program. Developed in partnership with the American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia (AFNGA), the program is designed to “deepen the transformational impact of cross-cultural exchange and creative collaboration between the two countries.”

The inaugural visits – Koons in August and Gibson in October – signal a significant cultural moment, with major American artists actively engaging with Australian art and institutions.

Koons, one of the world’s most recognisable contemporary artists best known for his monumental stainless steel sculptures of everyday objects – including Balloon Dog (1994) and Rabbit (1986) – willl open the program with a public in-conversation event alongside NGA Director Dr Nick Mitzevich in Kamberri/Canberra. 

Gibson, who represented the US at the 2024 Venice Biennale, will present the Gallery’s 2025 Annual Lecture during his visit. His interdisciplinary practice brings Native American aesthetic traditions into conversation with pop culture and activism. The artist’s visit promises to deepen discussions around identity, place and representation in contemporary art.

“The National Gallery is excited to welcome Jeff Koons and Jeffrey Gibson as the inaugural participants in the AFNGA: Visiting Creatives Program,” said Dr Mitzevich. “This new initiative marks an important development in our cultural exchange efforts, highlighting the richness of the national collection and fostering meaningful connections.”

Funded by AFNGA through the Pratt Foundation, the program offers a high-profile platform for American artists to immerse themselves in the NGA’s collection – including iconic works like Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles and the extensive Kenneth E. Tyler Collection of American printmaking – while also exploring Australian First Nations and contemporary art.

Michael Maher, President of AFNGA, described the initiative as a vital investment in cultural diplomacy. “One of our core missions is to elevate cultural ties between Australia and the United States. We are certain that upon our creatives’ return to the US, they will become enthusiastic and impactful ambassadors for the National Gallery.”

Maher added, “The power of ‘people-to-people’ exchanges to widely resonate, especially in the art world, is well known. Over the next forty years, the American Friends look forward to building the Visiting Creatives Program into a vital platform.”

For more information, visit the NGA website.