KIMONO: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse

The Japanese kimono is one of the world’s most admired garments—an instantly recognizable robe with a tall “T” form. Worn in Japan by women and men for well over 1,000 years, the kimono has been a canvas for spectacular woven, dyed, painted, printed, and embroidered designs by Japan’s textile artists. After the late nineteenth century, when Japan opened to foreign diplomacy and trade, kimonos also became beloved in the West, as subjects for painters and inspiration for fashion designers. In recent decades, the influence of the kimono has even reached the work of contemporary artists around the world, who are creating kimono-inspired works in such diverse media as paper, fiber, metal, glass, and ceramic. This exhibition will explore the kimono as a garment in Japanese history and culture, present it as canvas for spectacular design and messaging, and showcase the extraordinary works of ten international contemporary artists whose works of painting, sculpture, and fiber art have all been inspired in fascinating ways by this iconic garment. 

KIMONO: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse is organized in three sections and and contains a total of 46 art works, including 20 kimonos, woodblocks prints, a woodblock printed book, and photographs, as well as 19 works of contemporary art made of paper, fiber, metal, ceramic and glass.

International Arts & Artists is honored to be working with curator and long-time partner, Meher McArthur, to bring this exhibition to life. Meher McArthur is an Asian art historian specializing in Japanese art, with degrees from Cambridge University and London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), along with 25 years experience curating exhibitions, publishing, and teaching about Asian art. KIMONO: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse will tour for four years, until Summer 2029, and is now open for bookings.

 

Please contact TravelingExhibitions@ArtsandArtists.org for more information.