TAI Modern is pleased to announce the recipients and finalists of its 2026 Next Generation Prizes, marking the second biennial presentation of these awards and celebrating the growing international recognition of Japanese bamboo art.

This year’s competition showcased exceptional originality, technical mastery, and innovative design. Notably, six of the seven finalists were women, with all three major awards going to female artists—a milestone reflecting the remarkable contributions of women to this evolving art form.

Meet the 2026 Award Recipients:

Coffland Grand Prize: Oki Toshie
Excellence in Tradition Prize: Aoyagi Keiko
Excellence in Sculpture Prize: Hasegawa Kei
Finalists: Hata Satomi, Ikeda Yoshihiro, Kondo Masayo, and Okaji Kumi.

Selected through a blind-review process by an international panel of current and former museum curators, the artists represent an exciting new generation of bamboo artists. TAI Modern proudly congratulates all the recipients and finalists, including two prize winners and one finalist represented by the gallery.

The award-winning works are currently on view at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the vitality, creativity, and continued evolution of contemporary Japanese bamboo art. Also don’t miss a special opportunity to meet Grand Prize winner Oki Toshie, who will travel from Japan for an artist talk on Saturday, November 14, at 2pm PST. The talk is included with general admission, and advance ticket reservations are recommended.

Discover these outstanding artists and join in celebrating the future of Japanese bamboo art!

To learn more, click here.