Van Gogh's iconic Sunflowers and a companion piece to Australian artist Patricia Piccinini's Skywhale will headline the National Gallery of Australia's 2020 exhibition offerings.

Months after it was revealed the original Skywhale hot air balloon had been donated to the Canberra gallery through the government's cultural gifts program, director Nick Mitzevich announced on Wednesday a new hyperreal sculpture, titled Skywhalepapa, would tour the country.