The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) opened its doors on 12 June 2026 to the largest exhibition ever dedicated to the house of Cartier in Australia. The centrepiece of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces programme, this exceptional retrospective runs at NGV International until 4 October 2026.
Arriving directly from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the exhibition brings together nearly 400 jewels, timepieces and precious objects, alongside rare design drawings, photographs and archival materials. It features almost 300 works never before seen in Australia.
Among the highlights are spectacular creations owned and worn by cultural and royal icons including Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Rihanna, Andy Warhol, Princess Margaret, the Duchess of Windsor and Dame Nellie Melba. The latter, a soprano of Melbourne origin and longstanding Cartier client, is honoured with bespoke lyrical performances held every Friday evening as part of the Friday Nights programme.
The exhibition traces the evolution of the house from its Parisian beginnings at the turn of the twentieth century through to its most contemporary creations. It is organised across ten thematic sections covering Cartier’s emblematic panther, the mysterious clocks, tiaras, and the house’s relationship with cinema and high jewellery.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is the presentation of more than twenty breathtaking tiaras, among Cartier’s most celebrated creations, some of which were worn by Clementine Churchill at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The exhibition design was entrusted to two Dutch studios, Studio Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, in collaboration with the NGV, for a result that promises to be as impressive as the works it showcases. Time Out has already ranked this exhibition among the best cultural events in the world in 2026.
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