A Retrospective Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Artist’s Death “Imamura Shiko: A Revolutionary Innovator of Nihonga”

The Yokohama Museum of Art is presenting the exhibition Imamura Shiko: A Retrospective Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Artist’s Death “Imamura Shiko: A Revolutionary Innovator of Nihonga” until June 28, 2026.

This is the first major retrospective of Imamura Shiko (1880–1916)—a pioneering Nihonga painter born in Yokohama—in 42 years, and the first ever held at a public art museum.
The exhibition features approximately 200 works—including many being shown for the first time—tracing the powerful creative journey of an artist who lived only 35 years yet left a lasting impact on modern Japanese painting.

During the exhibition period, the museum café offers a special matcha parfait, the “SHIKO Parfait,” created exclusively for this occasion.

Why not enjoy this exhibition together with a visit to Sankeien Garden, a famous Yokohama landmark closely associated with Imamura Shiko?

《Exhibition Details》
The painter Imamura Shiko (1880–1916) was active from the late Meiji era (1868–1912) through the early Taisho era (1912–1926). This is the first large-scale retrospective of his work in 42 years, and the first ever to be held at a public art museum. Shiko studied traditional Yamato-e, a Japanese painting style established during the Heian era (794–1185) and practiced continuously since, and at a young age demonstrated exceptional skill in history painting. He later set his sights on innovation in Nihonga (modern Japanese-style painting). Drawing inspiration from 17th-century Rimpa painters, particularly Tawaraya Sotatsu’s free and fluid style, he also incorporated elements from Nanga (a style of Japanese landscape painting established in the mid-18th century and influenced by works from China’s Jiangnan region) and Western Impressionism, developing a distinctive approach to landscape painting. His deliberate and determined brushwork, bold compositions, and vivid colors are exemplified in works such as “Scenes from the Tropics” and “Eight Views of Omi Province” (National Important Cultural Properties). This exhibition follows Imamura Shiko’s dynamic creative path over the course of his brief 35 years, presenting approximately 200 works, many on public display for the first time.
Simultaneously, our collection exhibition introduces highlights from the museum's permanent collection, including masterpieces by Kandinsky, Picasso, and Dalí, as well as a major painting by the contemporary Japanese artist Nara Yoshitomo.