10 Contemporary Art Spaces You Should Visit in Tokyo
By Something CuratedA sprawling city with a robust appetite for contemporary art, there is certainly no shortage of galleries and museums to discover in Tokyo. With so much to choose from, Something Curated highlights ten must-visit art spaces in the Japanese capital.
Take Ninagawa
Situated near Roppongi Hills, Take Ninagawa’s unassuming entrance belies its ambitious programme. The gallery, established in early 2008, has flourished under the directorship of founder Atsuko Ninagawa. Focused on promoting emerging Japanese artists within a cross-generational and international context, Ninagawa, formerly an independent curator in New York, sought to bring an NYC sensibility to Tokyo. Despite no longer being active in the US, her gallery continues to benefit from the international contacts she cultivated, consistently participating in the global art circuit as well as showing leading artists from around the world in Japan.
Mori Art Museum
Housed on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, the Mori Art Museum is a globally oriented contemporary art institution. Showcasing visual art, architecture, and design, the museum offers a unique perspective on creative practices from around the world. Renowned for featuring works by prominent artists like Leandro Erlich and Bill Viola, the Museum’s initiatives also support art from the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on Japan and its neighbouring countries. Committed to accessibility, the museum oversees public art installations in Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills, along with collaborative art events in the local community.
Taka Ishii Gallery
Taka Ishii Gallery was founded by Taka Ishii in 1994, and has since played a significant role in the Japanese and international art scenes, showcasing contemporary art by both emerging and established artists. Taka Ishii’s exhibitions programme has a dual objective of presenting international contemporary artists in Japan and providing a global platform for the art of emerging Japanese talents and contemporary masters. While rooted in photography, today, the gallery’s programme features works by represented artists across diverse media, including painting, sculpture and film.
Maison Hermès
Crafted from specially made glass blocks and situated in Ginza, Maison Hermès was built between 1998 and 2001, designed by Renzo Piano with assistance from Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Takenaka Corporation. At the eighth floor of the flagship store and corporate headquarters, there is a gallery space. This expansive, luminous gallery hosts three contemporary art exhibitions annually. In addition to a roof garden at the top of the building, there is also a recess, which divides the long facade into two, forming a courtyard that creates an access to the subway two levels below.
SCAI The Bathhouse
Founded in 1993, over the years, SCAI The Bathhouse has hosted numerous exhibitions, and commissioned projects and public works. The gallery has championed leading artists, from Lee Ufan, a key figure in the Mono-ha school, to Toshikatsu Endo and Mariko Mori. Nestled in Yanaka, evoking old Tokyo’s charm, SCAI The Bathhouse is close by to Ueno’s vibrant arts district. Set in a historic 200-year-old public bath, the gallery welcomes visitors to a modern white cube space with a mortar floor and soft natural light, seamlessly balancing tradition and modernity through its architecture.
Yayoi Kusama Museum
Renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is celebrated for her avant-garde and immersive artworks. Born in 1929, Kusama gained international acclaim for her contributions to the Pop Art and Minimalist movements. Her distinctive style often features vibrant colours, polka dots, and repetitive patterns, with a focus on themes of infinity and self-obliteration. The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo is exclusively devoted to her work. Situated in the Shinjuku Ward in the western suburbs of Tokyo, the five-floor building was designed by the Japanese architecture firm Kume Sekkei. Completed in 2014 and inaugurated in 2017, the museum debuted with an exhibition featuring 600 of Kusama’s works.
Espace Louis Vuitton
The Fondation Louis Vuitton, a Paris based cultural organisation, curates an international art programme hosted in Tokyo as well as other locations such as Munich, Venice, and Beijing. Opened in 2011, Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo is situated at the heart of Omotesando, atop the Louis Vuitton building designed by Japanese architect Jun Aoki. Since its inception, the striking glass-encased structure has hosted solo exhibitions by artists including Cerith Wyn Evans, Jesus Rafael Soto, and Christian Boltanski, along with group shows featuring works by artists from Finland, South Korea, India, and Japan.
Yumiko Chiba Associates
Established in 1998 as an artist management firm, Yumiko Chiba Associates has evolved into a gallery representing the estates of significant post-war Japanese artists such as Jiro Takamatsu, Masafumi Maita, and Katsuro Yoshida. The gallery also showcases artists from diverse generations, including Beat Streuli, David Shrigley, Ryudai Takano, and Chikako Yamashiro. Hosting solo and group exhibitions throughout the year, Yumiko Chiba Associates actively engages in international projects. In addition, the gallery is committed to art publication and critique, producing scholarly booklets that feature critical essays by curators and researchers.
WAITINGROOM
Founded in Tokyo in 2010, WAITINGROOM is dedicated to promoting and supporting progressive contemporary art across various mediums. The gallery collaborates with young, emerging artists navigating the balance between distinct perspectives and expressions. WAITINGROOM’s focus lies on the human presence in post-industrial society, encompassing social engagement, the connection with nature, cultural heritage, and the dreams that sustain faith in the world. The gallery fosters artistic creation through various programmes, including lectures and workshops, sparking dynamic discussions.
Kaikai Kiki Gallery
In 2006, Kaikai Kiki relocated its headquarters from a small prefab studio in Asaka City to an urban office building in Motoazabu, Tokyo. Concurrently, the basement floor was transformed into a private viewing room for clients. In March 2008, it reopened as Kaikai Kiki Gallery, managing artists and selling artwork with the aim of instilling new social value into art. The gallery has hosted exhibitions for local artists and international figures like Mark Grotjahn, Matthew Monahan, Seonna Hong, and Friedrich Kunath. Kaikai Kiki Gallery continues to showcase artists globally, fostering connections between art and audiences through its unique programme.
Feature image: Tsuruko Yamazaki, Red (Shape of Mosquito Net), Installation view at Outdoor Gutai Art Exhibition Ashiya Park, Japan 1956. © Estate of Tsuruko Yamazaki. Courtesy of LADS Gallery, Osaka and Take Ninagawa, Tokyo