Lecture | New Ground: Contemporary Design and Architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Simone LeAmon
A&A, Bloom, cabinet, oak, white maple, and dyed rye straw, 2018, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists.
Refik Anadol, Quantum Memories, 2020, commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, purchased with funds donated by Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund and Barry Janes and Paul Cross, 2021.
Oki Sato, designer, NENDO, design studio, Manga chairs #1– #50, 2015, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, purchased with funds donated by Bruce Parncutt AO and Robin Campbell, Michael and Emily Tong, 2018.
Christien Meindertsma, designer, Tools for Technology, manufacturer, First there was a mountain, 2004, commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, purchased with funds donated by Jo Horgan AM and MECCA Brands.
May 1, 2025
As Australia’s leading museum, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne has captured global attention through its ambitious curatorial work in contemporary design and architecture. From commissioning bold new works and building its collection to staging the landmark exhibition NGV Triennial and Melbourne Design Week, the NGV is redefining how museums engage with design practice in shaping culture and the built environment.
In this lecture, Simone LeAmon, curator of contemporary design and architecture at the NGV, offers an inside look at the museum’s approach to design and architecture. She discusses how the NGV fosters experimentation, amplifies emerging voices, and collaborates with designers to drive dialogue, innovation, and new modes of audience engagement. Featuring work from both Australian and international practitioners, the talk highlights how contemporary design continues to shape cultural discourse and reflect the values and complexities of the times.
Plan Your Visit
- This program is included with Museum admission.
- The lecture takes place in Brown Auditorium Theater on the lower level of the Law Building. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Parking Information | Museum Hours | MFAH Campus Map
About the Speaker
Simone LeAmon is the inaugural curator of contemporary design and architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). She has been instrumental in building the NGV’s holdings of Australian and international design since 1980, curating over 25 exhibitions, and leading initiatives such as Melbourne Design Week and the Melbourne Design Fair. Her curatorial projects include the NGV Triennial, Melbourne Now, MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission, Rigg Design Prize, Lucy McRae: Body Architect, Black Bamboo, and Designing Women.
The Houston Antiques Dealers Association (HADA) Annual Lecture, established in 1982, is the oldest endowed lecture at the Museum. Distinguished scholars—including speakers from institutions such as the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Victoria and Albert Museum—share their knowledge and expertise about the decorative arts.
All Learning and Interpretation programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, receive generous support from H-E-B; Institute of Museum and Library Services; Sempra Foundation; the Brown Foundation, Inc.; the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; the John M. O'Quinn Foundation; the Joe Barnhart Foundation; the Cockrell Family Fund; the CFP Foundation; Macey and Harry Reasoner; the Texas Commission on the Arts; and the Junior League of Houston, Inc.
Endowment funds are provided by the Louise Jarrett Moran Bequest; Caroline Wiess Law; Windgate Foundation; the William Randolph Hearst Foundation; Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Fondren Foundation; BMC Software, Inc.; the Wallace Foundation; the Neal Myers and Ken Black Children’s Art Fund; the Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation; Medha and Shashank Karve; Virginia and Ira Jackson; Jesse H. Jones II; the CFP Foundation; the Favrot Fund; gifts in memory of John Wynne; Neiman Marcus Youth Arts Education; gifts in memory of Peter Lotz; and gifts in honor of Beth Schneider.
On Thursday, admission to the MFAH Permanent Collections is free for all individuals, courtesy of Shell USA, Inc.