Lyon Housemuseum

Lyon Housemuseum, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"So, where are we? This is the super-stylish home of architect Corbett Lyon, his wife, Yueji, and their children, who live among a sensational collection of Australian contemporary art of all media, from paintings to video. Corbett spent five years designing and two years building the house to get it just right. Now one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets, it's open several times a month to allow the rest of us to ogle the Lyons' fabulous life. Wow. So what's it like inside? People really live here, and you'll see the ephemera of everyday life—along with the art, of course—as you’re strolling around the ground-floor courtyards and sculpture gardens. And the art? Most public institutions dream about having this sort of collection, which has been amassed by the Lyons over the past three decades and include paintings, sculpture, installations, and video by the likes of Patricia Piccinini, Howard Arkley, Shaun Gladwell, and Callum Morton. The gallery exhibits 350 works by about 50 artists at a time—only about 20 percent of the full collection. To overcome the storage problem, the Housemuseum Galleries, next door, will open in early 2019. Note that bookings via the website are essential, and tours fill quickly. What's the staff like? The Lyons themselves, including the kids, guide guests around the spaces and answer any questions, giving the whole experience a personal touch. We're in. Who should we bring with us? Those who love contemporary art, amazing architecture, and peeking into other people’s lives."