Martin Grant at The Ian Potter Centre

The largest exhibition of Australian fashion luminary Martin Grant’s career has arrived at The Ian Potter Centre, celebrating four decades of the Melbourne-born, Paris-based designer’s work. Drawn from the NGV collection – including 217 pieces donated by Grant himself from his personal archive – alongside loans from family and friends, this major exhibition traces Grant’s journey from his beginnings in suburban Melbourne to his rise as a celebrated figure in international fashion.

A self-taught designer, Grant began his career in Melbourne’s vibrant 1980s fashion scene, releasing his first collection at just 16 years of age. He briefly studied sculpture at the Victorian College of the Arts before moving in the early 1990s to Paris, where he established his now-renowned eponymous label. Known for his skilful reinterpretation of wardrobe classics and refined approach to structure and volume, Grant’s designs exemplify restraint underpinned by immaculate finishes and traditional tailoring techniques. Throughout his career, Grant’s clients have included fashion icons and acclaimed actors such as Cate Blanchett, Naomi Campbell, Lady Gaga and Juliette Binoche.

The exhibition offers new insight into Grant’s creative process, featuring not only his sculptural garments but also photography, sketches, press clippings and runway footage. Highlights include his signature outerwear, expertly tailored jumpsuits and elegant evening gowns that demonstrate his deep understanding of fabric and form. Conceived in close collaboration with the designer, the exhibition reflects Grant’s minimalist aesthetic while exploring his creative relationships with artists like Jenny Watson and photographers Polly Borland and Sarah Moon.

Broadsheet is a proud media partner of the NGV.