Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno: Design Fantasy Originating in Vienna｜The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Exhibition

Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno: Design Fantasy Originating in Vienna

2021.11.16 tue. - 01.16 sun.

This exhibition is the world’s first comprehensive retrospective of Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno (1893 – 1967), a designer active in Vienna and Kyoto.
Born in Vienna during the city’s golden era of culture, Rix-Ueno – known as Lizzi – graduated from the School of Applied Arts Vienna, and then went on to work for the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops). She moved to live in Kyoto when she married Japanese architect Isaburo Ueno.
Before the Second World War Lizzi divided her time between Vienna and Kyoto, working on a wide variety of design projects including everyday items, and interior decoration like wallpaper and textiles. After the war she and her husband both taught at today’s Kyoto City University of Arts, and after retiring from the university the couple set up the International Design Institute where Lizzi made an immense contribution to nurturing future generations of designers, leaving an enduring legacy.
In addition to a large number of pieces from the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, this exhibition brings together around 370 works and materials by Lizzi and related artists from institutions in Japan and abroad, including the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts and Contemporary Art, Vienna, to present an overview of Lizzi's fascinating world of colourful and imaginative design.

* Before her marriage the artist’s full name was Felice Rix, nicknamed ‘Lizzi’. After her marriage she hyphenated her surnames German style, becoming Felice Ueno-Rix, and she often used her nickname, signing herself “Lizzi Ueno-Rix”. In the Romanised texts for this exhibition we use the English name order, Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno, abbreviated to “Lizzi” in essays and longer passages.

List of Works Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno: Design Fantasy Originating in Vienna (PDF 1MB)

Related Web Site Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno: Design Fantasy Originating in Vienna
The website has closed with the end of the exhibition.

Exhibition dates 2021.11.16 Tue. - 2022.01.16 sun.

Hours 9:30AM–5:00PM
*Fridays and Saturdays: 9:30AM–8:00PM
*Admission until 30 min. before closing

Closed Mondays, New Year's holiday (December 28, 2021– January 3, 2022)
*Exception: January 10

Admission Adults: 1,700 yen (1,500 yen)
University students: 1,100 yen (900 yen)
High school students: 600 yen (400 yen)
* Figures in parentheses are advanced ticket and groups of 20 or more.
* Junior high school students and younger are free (with valid ID).
* Visitors with disability and one person accompanying them are admitted free of charge. (Please present certificate at the admission.)
* Collection gallery exhibition is available with this ticket.
* Advance tickets are available from September 16 to November 15.

Anonym, Portrait (Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno), 1930s
Mode Wien (Vienna Fashion), vol. 4, No. 7, 1914/15
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Design for WW-Textile "Sommerwinde (Summer Wind)", 1922
Museum Purchase from Smithsonian Collections Acquisition and Decorative Arts Association Acquisition Funds. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Photo: Matt Flynn c Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
WW-Wallpaper "Soede-Wicken (Broad Beans)", pre 1928
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Design for Easter Bonbonniere (2), c. 1925-35
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
WW-Textile "Kreml (Kremlin)", 1929
Iwami Art Museum, Shimane
[Folding Screen with Birds, Flowers and Trees], c. 1935
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno / Isaburo Ueno, Interior Design for Star Bar (1), 1930
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Kokeshi Doll: Woman carrying Package on her Head, 1936-39
Gunma Prefectural Museum of History
Printed-Silk Textile Design for Dress "Candy", 1935-44
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Printed Textile Design for Dress [Elephants and Children], 1943
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Design for Ski Mitten with Embroidery, 1935-44
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
[Manufacturer: Inaba Cloisonne], Cloisonné Box “Circus with Horse I”, c. 1950 [reproduced in 1987]
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
[Manufacturer: Inaba Cloisonne], Cloisonne Plate [Bouquet I], c. 1950 [reproduced in 1987]
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Design for Cloisonne Plate [Two Peacocks], date unknown
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
[Manufacture: Yoshichu Co. Ltd.], Printed Textile [Vegetables], c. 1955 [reproduced in 1987]
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Christmas Market in Vienna (detail), c. 1955
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Christmas Ornament Design [Angel], date unknown
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Mural of "Actress", the Former Restaurant at the Nissay Theatre, Tokyo (detail), 1963, date unknown
University Art Museum, Kyoto City University of Arts