This December, RUSSH is joining the Art Gallery of New South Wales to celebrate the opening of Takashi Murakami: When the Mountain Is High, the Moon Rises Higher. Known for his instantly recognisable smiling flowers, playful characters and vivid compositions, Murakami is an artist whose work has found its way well beyond the gallery, influencing everything from fashion and design to music and popular culture. Opening on 5 December 2026, the Sydney-exclusive exhibition brings together more than three decades of work by the Japanese artist, spanning painting, sculpture, video and large-scale installations. Be among the first in Australia to step inside Murakami’s kaleidoscopic universe at the after-hours celebration on 5 December. From 6pm, the Art Gallery transforms after hours, offering achance to experience Murakami’s world in a different light, with late-night access to the exhibition and live performances, DJ sets and food.
The evening will feature a special appearance by Murakami himself, with Melbourne-based violinist, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Elle Shimada performing alongside DJs KILIMI, Issa Tejima and Riri, as well as food and bar pop-ups. It’s this crossover between art and everyday life that makes Murakami such a distinctive figure in contemporary culture. Drawing on the visual language of Japanese artistic traditions while embracing the influence of pop culture, his work moves effortlessly between the worlds of fine art, fashion and beyond. His practice is as much about the images we surround ourselves with as it is about the way we experience art.
Join RUSSH and the Art Gallery of New South Wales for the Flower Moon Party on Saturday, 5 December 2026, from 6–10pm at the Naala Badu building.
Tickets are $65 for adults, $60 for concession and $55 for Gallery members, including after-hours entry to the exhibition and the Flower Moon Party. Takashi Murakami: When the Mountain Is High, the Moon Rises Higher will be on view at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 5 December 2026 to 18 July 2027. Tickets for the exhibition and Flower Moon Party are available to purchase here.
Want more Culture? You might also like:
- The RUSSH Editors’ cultural report card: everything we loved in October
- Art in November: Your guide to the Australian exhibitions taking place this month
- AO3 might be down for a month – here’s where to go instead
- Vote for your favourite entry in the RUSSH Creative Showcase 2026
- Art in October: Your guide to the Australian exhibitions taking place this month
