Kawai Kanjiro in NYC
Japan Society in New York opened the first-ever U.S. solo exhibition for pottery master Kanjiro Kawai — a career‑spanning show marking the 60th anniversary of his death and featuring ceramics, wood sculpture, calligraphy, and mingei (folk craft) work Nikkei Asia. The exhibition is being framed as a rare chance to see works that seldom leave Japan and to trace Kawai’s influence on international ceramics Nikkei Asia.
The exhibition is titled "Kawai Kanjirō: House to House" and runs March 10–May 10, 2026 at Japan Society in New York Japan Society ([japansociety.org)]. It was co‑curated by Dr. Michele Bambling of Japan Society and Tamae Sagi, who serves as curator of the Kawai Kanjirō House and is Kawai’s granddaughter My Modern Met ([mymodernmet.com)]. Press coverage reports the show presents roughly 140 items drawn from the artist’s personal collection at the Kawai Kanjirō House in Kyoto MSN (syndicated AP) ([msn.com)]. Organizers programmed a sold‑out opening reception on March 18, a "Kawai Kanjirō’s Way of Tea" demonstration on March 19, and a JASA Annual Lecture on March 22 as part of the run Japan Society events ([japansociety.org)]. Curators say the New York presentation includes the largest display to date of Kawai’s wooden sculptures and masks, emphasizing his late‑career turn to carving alongside ceramics My Modern Met ([mymodernmet.com)]. Kawai declined the government honor of Living National Treasure in 1956, and his former residence opened to the public as the Kawai Kanjirō House museum in 1973 — the source of the loans on view in New York Japan Society ([japansociety.org)].
