Courtesy Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd.

Visions of a Blue Moon: Contemporary Arita Porcelain by Terauchi Shinji
Opening Reception with Artist: Thursday, January 16, 5-7pm
January 14 – February 10, 2025

Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd is pleased to present a collection of new works by Terauchi Shinji, celebrating the bold and innovative spirit of the Riso Kiln from Arita. This kiln honors the storied tradition of Japanese porcelain while embracing a forward-thinking vision, asking, “What’s next?”

Japanese porcelain originated in the late 16th century near Arita, giving rise to diverse kiln styles. By the mid-17th century, Arita gained prominence for its vibrant overglaze decorations, known in Europe as Imari ware. Building on this rich history of global cultural exchange, the Riso Kiln, led by Terauchi Shinji, emerges as a modern innovator. Riso porcelain blends timeless craftsmanship with contemporary art, creating works that are both rooted in tradition and boldly forward-looking.

In his New York debut collection of new Arita porcelain, Terauchi reimagines the moon and our celestial universe – both of which are inspiring and universal symbols in both Western and Japanese culture – into tiered vessels that unstack into functional eating utensils. Dedicated to natural materials such as clay, silver, gold, cobalt, his work celebrates the evolving essence of Arita ware.

Inspired by planets, comets, and moons, Terauchi’s pieces captivate with their contemporary flair, diverse textures, and vibrant colors, each evoking a unique aspect of the moon’s character. Through intricate patterns and dynamic forms, he pushes the boundaries of form and function. These sculptural vessels are not only visually striking but also practical, ideal for serving Osechi, traditional Japanese New Year dishes.

The exhibition catalog features an insightful new essay by Professor Arakawa Masaaki, professor of art history at Gakushin University, Tokyo.

To learn more and view the online catalog, click here.

Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849), Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-Five Views of Fuji (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei), c. 1833, color woodcut,  9 13/16 x 14 9/16 inches (24.9 x 37 cm); Gift of Mrs. Moncure Biddle in memory of Ernest Fenollosa, 1958

Visions of the Land in Edo Japan
Through Monday, January 13, 2025
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia

There’s still time to catch Visions of the Land in Edo Japan at the Philadelphia Museum of Art before it closes on January 13!

Pictorial representations of the land blossomed in Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), an era of peace and prosperity. Landscape painters and printmakers created a large number of works with new ideas and techniques that had recently become available. Featuring recent acquisitions and choice examples from museum’s collection, this exhibition invites you to explore the three modes of landscape presented—poetic, iconic, and panoramic. Together, these visions of the land manifest the dynamism of Edo Japan.

To learn more and plan your visit, click here.

Takahashi Hiroaki (1871-1945), Brown Cat and Tomato Plant, 1931, woodblock print, 21 x 14.5 in (53.34 x 36.83 cm)

As we welcome the New Year, The Art of Japan is pleased to present over 30 remarkable new acquisitions. Highlights include rare, large-scale prints by Hiroaki, an exceptional work by Utamaro, dynamic Kuniyoshi prints featuring actors and warriors, a striking panoramic piece by Hiroshige, and three exquisite designs by Capelari.

Explore these treasures and more in their latest collection by clicking here.

Courtesy The Preservation Society of Newport County

Wild Imagination: Art and Animals in the Gilded Age
Closing Sunday, January 12, 2025
Newport Mansions, Rosecliff, Newport, RI

This is the final week to explore how Americans’ relationship with animals transformed during the Gilded Age (1870-1914) in this fascinating exhibition at Newport Mansions before it closes on January 12!

With a focus on Newport history, Wild Imagination: Art and Animals in the Gilded Age delves into how this exciting, tumultuous period shaped the role of animals in our modern world. In the late 19th century, as Americans moved from farms to cities and lost touch with rural life and nature, nostalgia for a bond with animals grew. At the same time, many where encountering exotic species through travel, exploration, and imperialism, while natural history hobbies like birdwatching and pet keeping flourished. And while captive animals thrilled spectators at zoos and circuses, which both had their heyday in the Gilded Age, activists launched the nation’s first animal rights movement. Newporters played a vital, though often contradictory role, championing animal rights while popularizing furs and feathers, pampering pets while supporting industries like railroads that destroyed wildlife habitats.

Wild Imagination brings together a menagerie of animal-themed artworks and other objects, from paintings, sculptures, photographs and fashions to fancy dog collars and sea creatures blown in glass. These pieces reflect profound and lasting changes in human-animal relations. They also reveal the individual stories of wondrous creatures that continue to capture our imagination.

To learn more, click here.

A Large Pair Chinese Cloisonne Censers, 20th c., h: 33 x w: 26 inches, estimate: $2,000-3,000

Asian, Native American, and Other Works of Art from an Oklahoma Collector
Open for bidding through January 14, 2025

Lark Mason Associates is delighted to announce their latest online auction featuring Asian, Native American, and other remarkable works of art from a prominent Oklahoma collector. Now open for bidding through January 14, 2025, on iGavelAuctions.com, this eclectic sale offers a veritable treasure chest of 547 lots at accessible price points.

This captivating collection showcases Chinese export porcelain, over 25 intricately woven rugs, and an impressive selection of more than 108 Native American silver and turquoise jewelry pieces, belts and beadwork. The offerings extend to European and American art, Americana such as Staffordshire flow-blue historical plates, silver and a wide range of Art Deco Rosenthal figures.

With estimates starting below $3,000 and reserves as low as $25, this auction provides something special for collectors of all interests and budget. The featured highlights include A Large Pair of 20th Century Chinese Cloisonné Censers (Estimate: $2,000-3,000), a 20th Century Persian Tree of Life Qum Rugl, signed (Estimate: $1,500-2,000), and Four Chinese Pewter and Brass Censers (Estimate: $100-200).

To learn more and place bids, click here.

Installation view of Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet

Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet
Closing Sunday, January 12, 2025
Galleries 963–965

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet at The Metropolitan Museum of Art before it closes on January 12!

A mandala is a diagram of the universe—a map of true reality that in Tibet is used to conceptualize a rapid path to enlightenment. This insightful exhibition explores the imagery of the Himalayan Buddhist devotional art through over 100 paintings, sculptures, textiles, instruments, and an array of ritual objects, mostly dating between the 12th and 15th centuries. This dazzling visual experience provides a roadmap for understanding Himalayan Buddhist worship through early masterworks, juxtaposed with a newly commissioned contemporary installation by Tibetan artist Tenzing Rigdol.

To learn more, click here.

Iskandar and the talking tree (detail), folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama (Book of kings), Iran, probably Tabriz, Ilkhanid dynasty, ca. 1330, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1935.23

Gallery Tours: An Epic of Kings: The Great Mongol Shahnama
January 6–10 & 12 from 2:15–3:15pm (EST) Daily
Arthur M. Sackler Galleries 23 & 24

Don’t miss your last chance to explore An Epic of Kings: The Great Mongol Shahnama during its final week at the museum. The exhibition closes on Sunday, January 12, so be sure to join one of the free daily gallery tours offered through the closing date.

An Epic of Kings showcases a monumental illustrated manuscript of Iran’s national epic, the Shahnama, considered one of the most celebrated medieval Persian works. Twenty-five breathtaking folios from this manuscript are displayed alongside contemporaneous art from China, the Mediterranean, and the Latin West, offering a rare glimpse into a fascinating era of cultural exchange across Eurasia.

The hour-long tour delves into the manuscript’s bold illustrations, which bring to life the stories of the Shahnama, written in the 11th century. Discover how artists, three centuries later, interpreted this timeless epic through their masterful depictions.

To learn more, click here.

©Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst /Foto: Jörg von Bruchhausen

Unpacking Provenance | A Chinese Porcelain Cup
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 12-1pm EST
Zoom

Also mark your calendars for the premier of their new online series, Unpacking Provenance: Retracing the Histories of Asian Art on January 22 at 12pm EST.

Unpacking Provenance: Retracing the Histories of Asian Art brings together cross-disciplinary specialists to discuss provenance research processes and share resources. Discussions focus on a single object, exploring a variety of innovative, strategic, and collaborative approaches to inquiry.

In the series premiere, a panel of four experts reflect on a Yongzheng-period (1723–1735) porcelain cup in the collections of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. This cup was purchased in 1940 from a private individual whose father reportedly participated in the so-called Boxer War of 1900. Discussants will articulate research questions, brainstorm approaches, and talk through how they would ideally track down answers about both the object’s journey and the life histories of the individuals who encountered it.

Unpacking Provenance is part of a larger collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz that seeks to cultivate the global network of provenance researchers and promote exchange. Previous programs include Hidden Networks: The Trade of Asian Art (2020–2022) and Provenance of Asian Art: A Collaborative Workshop and Symposium (2023).

To learn more and register for free, click here.

New York City Location, Courtesy SEIZAN Gallery

Asia Week New York is delighted to welcome SEIZAN Gallery as a returning member this year! With locations in both New York City and Tokyo, the gallery represents modern and contemporary Japanese artists who work across a variety of media and styles. Their artists, including Yasuko Hasumura, Kengo Takahashi, Emi Katsuta, Toko Shinoda, Toshiyuki Kajioka, and Yasushi Ikejiri, create works that blend universal aesthetic appeal with deep ties to traditional Japanese art. Located in vibrant cultural centers in both East and West, SEIZAN Gallery works with emerging artists to fulfill their vision and potential to contribute to the art world.

Miné Okubo, Untitled (Women), ca 1940, oil on canvas, 30.1 x 25 x 0.8 in. (76.4 x 63.5 x 2 cm)

Miné Okubo: Portraits
And
Life Studies: Vincent Chong, Aya Fujioka, Alex Ito, Charlie Mai, Homer Shew
January 9 – March 1, 2025
Opening reception: January 9, 6-8pm
525 West 26th Street, NYC

Be sure to visit the gallery Thursday, January 9 from 6-8pm for the opening of two exciting new exhibitions: Miné Okubo: Portraits and Life Studies, featuring works by Vincent Chong, Aya Fujioka, Alex Ito, Charlie Mai, and Homer Shew.

They look forward to welcoming you soon!

To learn more, click here.