Gen’ichirō Inokuma, Inokuma working in his studio at 115 East 95th Street, black and white photograph. Courtesy Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art

Gen’ichiro Inokuma’s NYC Salon
October 6, 2026 — January 10, 2027
Special Opening Event: Gen’ichirō Inokuma’s NYC Salon Symposium, Tuesday, October 6 at 2 pm (RSVP required)
Opening Reception for Individual & Corporate Members: Tuesday, October 6 at 6pm (RSVP required)

Opening October 6 at Japan Society, Gen’ichiro Inokuma’s NYC Salon offers a rare opportunity to discover the vibrant New York chapter of Japanese modern artist Gen’ichiro Inokuma (1902–1993). Marking his first U.S. solo museum exhibition, the show brings together paintings, works on paper, and other multimedia works created during Inokuma’s twenty-year residence in New York City, from 1955 to 1975. Organized in collaboration with MIMOCA, the exhibition draws from collections in Japan Society and MIMOCA, alongside works from a recently discovered New York private collection.

Inokuma’s Manhattan sojourn was shaped by meaningful connections with the American avant-garde: Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko, Robert Rauschenberg, Alexander Calder, David Smith, Isamu Noguchi, Yoko Ono, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and many others. Inokuma and his wife, Fumiko, also served as a social and cultural bridge between American and visiting Japanese artists and architects, often hosting gatherings at their New York apartments. The exhibition features photographs, film footage, and ephemera documenting these artistic interactions.

By illuminating Inokuma’s little-known role in postwar American art history, NYC Salon brings new insights into New York City’s mid-20th-century art world—both its collaborative artistic atmosphere, and its vibrant international social scene.

They look forward to welcoming you soon, and invite you to discover the full range of upcoming programs presented in conjunction with the exhibition.

To learn more, click here.