SYDNEY.- The Art Gallery of New South Wales launched its major summer exhibition Pop to popism, the most comprehensive collection of pop art ever to be seen in Australia.

Exclusive to Sydney, Pop to popism features 200 works by more than 70 of pop’s greatest artists – many of which have never before been exhibited in Australia. Spanning three decades, from the mid 1950s to the 1980s, it traces pop from its origins through to its heyday, and its enduring legacy both in Australia and internationally.

Part of the Sydney International Art Series, Pop to popism has taken over an entire floor and is one of the most ambitious exhibitions undertaken by the Gallery. For the very first time, Australian pop artists are being presented alongside their international peers from America, Britain and Europe.

Featured artists include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Brett Whiteley, Richard Hamilton, Martin Sharp, Gilbert and George, Cindy Sherman, Martha Rosler, Ed Ruscha, Peter Blake, Richard Larter, Niki de Saint Phalle and Maria Kozic.

Art Gallery of NSW head curator of Australian art Wayne Tunnicliffe has developed this exhibition over the last two years: 'Pop art changed culture forever and yet no pop survey exhibition has included Australian artists – Pop to popism grew from a desire to see our artists exhibited in an international context.’

Director Michael Brand said: 'Pop to popism promises to be an unforgettable exhibition, with over 200 works travelling in from all over the world to take over an entire floor of the Gallery. The exhibition is testament to the hard work of the whole team in creating an extraordinary art experience in Sydney this summer.’

Works of art are on loan from 49 institutions and private collections worldwide, including the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the National Gallery of Art, Washington; the Museum of Modern Art and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, New York; Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; the Menil Collection, Houston; the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; and the JW Power Collection, Sydney.

Inside the exhibition are two new and exciting features: POP PLAY, a creative family space with interactive artmaking activities, and POP CAFE, which gives visitors a chance to refuel during their exhibition visit with special food and drink offerings from the Gallery’s caterers MorSul. Tunnicliffe remarked: 'The Gallery has taken a highly creative approach to presenting exhibitions for many years, but this time we have challenged ourselves to go to a new level and present a complete pop experience.’

An array of public programs is scheduled throughout the summer to further enhance the pop experience. These include short talks by Australian pop artists and other experts; the largest film series ever screened by the Gallery; and lectures by international art scholars, including Professor Hal Foster, author of The First Pop Age.