Exhibitions

Current

There are no Exhibitions currently on view.

Upcoming

Secrets of the Kimono: The Advent of Yuzen Dyeing

2025.07.19 sat. - 09.15 mon.

At one time, short-sleeved kimono known as kosode were worn in a wide range of situations and styles. As these kimono were made by straight stitching a uniform width of cloth, they possessed a flat quality, yet when they were worn the garments' myriad designs transformed them into three-dimensional objects. The kimono's charm lies in this ability to glide back and forth between two and three dimensions. This exhibition comprises outstanding examples of kimono from the early modern (late 16th to late 19th century) and modern eras (late 19th to mid-20th cen-tury) and related materials such as books of kimono patterns while also examining the relationship between the Kyoto art world and textile design. In addition, the exhibition focuses on the process of applying a design to textiles, the parallels between trends in textile design and other crafts, and works by Living National Treasures in yuzen dyeing. Join us as we pursue the secrets of the kimono.

Dōmoto Inshō: Master of Modern Kyoto Nihonga Painting

2025.10.07 tue. - 11.24 mon.

Dōmoto Inshō (1891-1975) was a Japanese style painter who was primarily active in government-spon-sored exhibitions. These included the first edition of the Teiten (Imperial Art Exhibition) in 1919, in which Dōmoto made his debut with Landscape at Fukakusa, Southern District of Kyoto. The artist received a special prize several years later for Chinese Court Women Playing Football at the third iteration of the event, and the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts Prize for Sudhana's Pilgrimage to the Fifty-five Saints at the sixth exhibition. Although Dōmoto's work was characterized by detailed representational paint-ings, he later adopted an abstract style after moving to Europe at the age of 60, realizing a style of abstraction defined by his vigorous brushstrokes. This major retrospective, designed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dōmoto's death, looks back at his career through some of his most prominent works, including those that were shown at government exhibitions, presenting a complete picture of the artist, who attained national fame as a master in the Kyoto art world.

#WhereDoWeStand?— Art in Our Time (tentative title)

2025.12.20 sat. - 03.08 sun.

Through the works they create, artists heighten our awareness of various issues we encounter in daily life and reveal funda-mental, universal truths about the world. This exhibition focuses on contemporary Japanese art from the 1990s onward, a period marked by advancing globalization and increasing opportunities for Japanese artists to present their works internationally. The exhibition draws on themes amply represented in the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto's collection, such as vision, body, identity, and history, and highlights the practices of Japanese contemporary artists.
* Main Image: TAKEMURA Kei, Renovanted: Piggy Bank, Globe, 2002-2021, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Past Exhibitions