Recommended Art Exhibitions in March 2026

NPO Aoyama Design Forum presents the recommended exhibitions of art galleries and museums in March 2026. In addition to the schedule of events, we will provide you with detailed information such as the works on display. Please check the website of each museum for current opening hours before visiting.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka “Collection 3”

“Collection 3” is presented in two parts: the special feature “Reflecting the City” and the year-round exhibition “Collection Highlights.” Centered on the theme of the city, the special feature introduces approximately 110 works, including recent acquisitions, ranging from the 1950s to the 2020s. Through changing urban landscapes, the exhibition reveals how artists have reflected social and economic realities as well as the inner lives of people living in their time. The Collection Highlights section traces the museum’s holdings back to Paul Cézanne and Max Ernst, while also featuring works by Joseph Beuys, Takashi Murakami, and Elizabeth Peyton, illuminating diverse aspects of modern and contemporary art.

Period: March 14 – June 14, 2026
Venue: The National Museum of Art, Osaka (B2 Exhibition Galleries)
Hours: 10:00–17:00 (Fridays until 20:00)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 430; University students 130
URL：https://www.nmao.go.jp

The National Museum of Art, Osaka “Nakanishi Natsuyuki: Devices for Gentle Gazing and Endless Lingering”

中西夏之《弓形が触れて Ⅲ》1978年　国立国際美術館蔵　©NATSUYUKI NAKANISHI

Marking the tenth anniversary of his passing, this is the first major retrospective of Nakanishi Natsuyuki (1935–2016), one of Japan’s leading contemporary painters. Tracing his practice from the late 1950s onward, the exhibition explores a distinctive vision of painting that resists simple categorization as figurative or abstract. Returning repeatedly to fundamental questions—how does a painting come into being, and where does it exist?—Nakanishi’s work offers profound insight into the act of painting itself. His sustained inquiry provides an important perspective for reconsidering what it means to create painting in Japan today.

Period: March 14 – June 14, 2026
Venue: The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Hours: 10:00–17:00 (Fridays until 20:00)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 1,500; University students 900
URL：https://tinyurl.com/49apnnax

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum “W. Eugene Smith and New York: The Loft Era”

W. ユージン・スミス〈私の窓から時々見ると...〉より 1958年頃 東京都写真美術館蔵

This exhibition focuses on the decade W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978) spent in a Manhattan loft beginning in 1957, presenting the first exhibition in Japan dedicated to this pivotal period. Moving beyond traditional photojournalism, Smith explored the artistic possibilities of photography through deeply personal projects. The exhibition highlights works produced during the loft years, shedding light on his identity not only as a documentary photographer but also as an artist. From encounters with jazz musicians and creatives who gathered in the loft to scenes observed from his window, the exhibition reconsiders Smith’s multifaceted vision of urban life.

Period: March 17 – June 7, 2026
Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, 2F Galleries
Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Thu–Fri until 20:00)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4), May 7
Admission: Adults 700
URL：https://topmuseum.jp

POLA MUSEUM ANNEX “POLA MUSEUM ANNEX 2026 – Beyond Patterning –”

This group exhibition presents recent works by artists who have completed overseas residency programs supported by the Pola Art Foundation. Divided into two sessions, the exhibition introduces diverse artistic approaches shaped by experiences across cultures and environments. Through explorations of material, technique, bodily perception, and spatial awareness, the participating artists reveal new directions in contemporary expression. By shifting themes between the first and second periods, the exhibition creates a dynamic platform where multiple perspectives intersect, highlighting the expanding possibilities of contemporary art today.

Period: February 13 – April 19, 2026
Venue: POLA MUSEUM ANNEX, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00–19:00
Closed: Open during exhibition period
Admission: Free
URL：https://tinyurl.com/3va6wbep

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa “Collection Exhibition 3: Déjà vu”

Centered on the sensation of déjà vu—the strange feeling of having experienced something before—this exhibition presents works from the museum’s collection across painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation. Moving between memory and record, reality and fiction, the exhibition explores complex modes of perception shaped by personal recollection and social transformation. In an age when AI-generated imagery permeates everyday life, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider assumptions about seeing and knowing through subtle experiences of familiarity and dislocation.

Period: January 31 – May 10, 2026
Venue: Exhibition Rooms 1–6
Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Fri–Sat until 20:00)
Closed: Mondays (except Feb 23, May 4)
Admission: Adults 450
URL：https://www.kanazawa21.jp

The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama “Ansei and Toshiko Uchima: Weaving Colors and Memories”

内間安瑆《Forest Byobu (Autumn-Stone)》1979年　個人蔵

Born in the United States as second-generation Japanese immigrants, Ansei Uchima (1921–2000) devoted himself to creative printmaking after studying in Japan, influenced by artists such as Onchi Kōshirō and Munakata Shikō. His signature “Color-Plane Weaving” technique culminated in the celebrated Forest Byobu series, acclaimed for its harmony of color and composition. This exhibition also highlights works by his wife, Toshiko Uchima (1918–2000), known for her imaginative assemblages. Featuring prints and collages alongside related artists including Isamu Noguchi, the exhibition sheds new light on postwar artistic expression.

Period: March 7 – May 31, 2026
Venue: The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama
Hours: 9:30–17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (except May 4)
Admission: Adults 1,200
URL：https://tinyurl.com/4cuzewuw

NANZUKA UNDERGROUND “Raymond Lemstra: Good Looking

This solo exhibition by Raymond Lemstra presents a new series of portrait drawings and paintings, marking a significant development in his long-term exploration of the human face. Featuring 20 new graphite drawings and six new paintings, the works appear realistic at first glance yet reveal subtle humor and irony. In recent years, Lemstra has combined traditional Dutch oil painting techniques with Korean hanji paper, expanding his visual language. The exhibition offers the first comprehensive presentation of this latest body of work.

Period: March 7 – April 4, 2026
Venue: NANZUKA UNDERGROUND
Hours: 11:00–19:00
Closed: Sunday, Monday
URL：https://tinyurl.com/2cfkw2zv

Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts & Culture “Through Art and Calligraphy, Enter the World of Hyakunin Isshu”

Located at the foot of Mount Ogura, associated with Fujiwara no Teika, this exhibition explores the cultural legacy of the classical poetry anthology Hyakunin Isshu through painting and calligraphy. Featuring the first public display of the Hyakunin Isshu Album alongside works by Hasegawa Sōen, Kiyohara Yukinobu, Hon’ami Kōetsu, and Maruyama Ōkyo, the exhibition reveals the rich interplay between waka poetry and visual art. Visitors are invited to rediscover the enduring beauty of poetic expression through artistic interpretation.

Period: January 31 – April 12, 2026
Venue: Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts & Culture, Kyoto
Hours: 10:00–17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
Closed: Feb 15, Feb 17, Mar 3, Mar 17
URL：https://www.samac.jp/

Kyocera Museum of Art, Kyoto: “A 400-Year Journey Through Western Painting: Masterpieces from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Collection”

This exhibition brings together approximately 80 masterpieces spanning 400 years of Western painting, from the Italian Renaissance of the 16th century to the modern and contemporary periods of the 20th century. Through a diverse array of works—ranging from mythological and religious paintings to the innovative styles of Monet, Cézanne, and others—the exhibition traces the evolution of Western painting. Featuring carefully selected masterpieces from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum’s extensive collection, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience the timeless appeal of these works.

Dates: March 20 to May 24, 2026
Venue: Kyoto Ceramic Art Museum, Main Building, North Gallery, 1st Floor
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Mondays (Open on May 4)
Admission: General admission 2,000 yen, etc.
URL：https://tinyurl.com/49yhc6c9

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo “Mission Infinity: Space, Quantum and Art”

Bringing together science and art, this exhibition explores the foundations of the universe through themes of space and quantum physics. Featuring collaborations between scientists and artists, including works created using a Japanese quantum computer, the exhibition examines invisible dimensions where time and space behave in unexpected ways. Alongside immersive installations, XR experiences and metaverse presentations create a multilayered exhibition environment, offering new possibilities for artistic expression at the intersection of science and creativity.

Period: January 31 – May 6, 2026
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Hours: 10:00–18:00
Closed: Mondays (except Feb 23, May 4)
Admission: Adults 1,800
URL：https://tinyurl.com/4nv49za3

Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito – Special Exhibition “Yudai Iikawa: When You Find What Matters”

飯川雄大《デコレータークラブ―配置・調整・周遊》2020年

This exhibition offers a comprehensive introduction to the practice of Yudai Iikawa, whose work focuses on the relativity of time and the fluctuations of perception. A new installation will also be presented, exploring the possibilities within ambiguous information and the incompleteness of human senses. The scenes that emerge through the behavior of visitors provide an opportunity to reflect on moments when we encounter landscapes different from those of everyday life.

Dates: February 28 (Sat) – May 6 (Wed, holiday), 2026
Venue: Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00 (Last admission 17:30)
Closed: Mondays (Open on May 4)
Admission: 900 yen for adults, others vary
Image Credit: Yudai Iikawa, Decorator Club – Arrangement, Adjustment, Circulation, 2020
URL：https://tinyurl.com/5x4rfw72

Toyota Municipal Museum of Art “Takashima Yajuro: 50 Years after His Passing”

《蝋燭》大正期、福岡県立美術館蔵

Marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Western-style painter Takashima Yajuro (1890–1975), this large-scale retrospective presents approximately 170 works, including pieces shown publicly for the first time. Known for his contemplative depictions of candles and the moon, Takashima pursued a deeply personal realism throughout his life. Through paintings and archival materials, the exhibition offers a comprehensive view of his artistic philosophy and enduring legacy.

Period: January 6 – March 15, 2026
Venue: Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
Hours: 10:00–17:30 (Last entry 17:00)
Closed: Mondays (except Jan 12, Feb 23)
Admission: Adults 1,500
URL：https://tinyurl.com/mr3yb5tk

Plaza Gallery “Koro Ihara: Breath-Through”

This exhibition presents the sculptural practice of Koro Ihara, who works with traces and by-products of living organisms, combining them with traditional techniques. Using materials such as animal droppings, bird nests, worm castings, and Nostoc (a form of cyanobacteria), Ihara transforms natural processes into sculptural form. In this presentation, the installation is conceived as a breathing environment in which the flow of nature becomes visible. The exhibition space evolves like a living organism, inviting viewers to reflect on cycles of life and transformation.

Period: February 7 – March 29, 2026
Venue: Plaza Gallery
Hours: 11:00–18:00
Closed: Monday–Wednesday
URL：http://www.plaza-gallery.com/

CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO “SORAYAMA: Light, Reflection, Transparency －TOKYO－”

The largest retrospective ever held of internationally acclaimed artist Hajime Sorayama takes place at CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO. Centered on his long-standing exploration of the aesthetics of the human body and machinery, the exhibition traces his pursuit of light, transparency, and reflection from early iconic works to the latest creations. Building upon the widely acclaimed Shanghai exhibition, this Tokyo edition expands both its content and scale. A new sculpture inspired by Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell, Sexy Robot_The Ghost in the Shell type 2 (2026), will also be unveiled.

Period: March 14 – May 31, 2026
Venue: CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO
URL：https://sorayama2026.jp/

ATELIER MUJI GINZA “Totonou: An Exhibition on Finding Balance”

Focusing on the Japanese concept of “totonou,” meaning to bring things into balance, this exhibition explores how harmony can be found in everyday life. Rather than adding or subtracting excessively, “totonou” suggests adjusting one’s environment, body, and mind toward what feels sufficiently complete. Through spatial installations inspired by the traditional tea room and experiential settings that encourage self-awareness, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider their senses and rediscover a state of quiet equilibrium within contemporary life.

Period: March 20 – May 31, 2026
Venue: ATELIER MUJI GINZA (MUJI Ginza 6F)
Hours: 11:00–20:00
URL：https://tinyurl.com/yk33srfh

NANZUKA UNDERGROUND “Raymond Lemstra: Good Looking”

This solo exhibition by Raymond Lemstra presents a new series of portrait drawings and paintings, marking a significant development in his long-term exploration of the human face. Featuring 20 new graphite drawings and six new paintings, the works appear realistic at first glance yet reveal subtle humor and irony. In recent years, Lemstra has combined traditional Dutch oil painting techniques with Korean hanji paper, expanding his visual language. The exhibition offers the first comprehensive presentation of this latest body of work.

Period: March 7 – April 4, 2026
Venue: NANZUKA UNDERGROUND
Hours: 11:00–19:00
Closed: Sunday, Monday
URL：https://tinyurl.com/7xxcj4bv