“Work of Renowned Japanese Folk Artist to be Showcased Globally for the First Time”
A hundred years ago, Kawai Kanjirō along with two of his close companions introduced a term that would transform Japanese art: *mingei*. This blend of *minshū* (“people”) and *kōgei* (“craft”) captured a craft-focused, populist ethos. As one of the movement’s founding figures, it’s unsurprising that Kanjirō played a pivotal role in shaping it, leading to creations ranging from functional pottery to wood carvings. Hence, what better way to commemorate the centenary of mingei than with a retrospective of the artist’s works?
*Opening on March 10, 2026, at the Japan Society in New York, Kawai Kanjirō: House to House* explores Kanjirō’s vital role in mingei through his ceramics, wooden sculptures, masks, calligraphy, poetry, and design. This exhibition highlights pieces that have never before left Japan, all sourced from the artist’s own collection at the Kawai Kanjirō House in Kyoto. The curator of this project, Sagi Tamae, who also happens to be Kanjirō’s granddaughter, facilitated this remarkable exchange.
“The collaborative process of curating the exhibition with Tamae inspired the concept of showcasing highlights of Kanjirō’s personal collection through the perspectives of his home, studio, and kiln,” Michele Bambling, senior director of Japan Society Gallery and co-curator of the exhibition, shares with My Modern Met. “Marking the 60th anniversary of Kanjirō’s passing, this serves as the first solo exhibition of his work in the U.S. and the only instance of items from the Kanjirō House collection being exhibited outside Japan.”
The weight of this occasion is emphasized by the exhibition’s grand scale. Indeed, *House to House* features the most extensive display of Kanjirō’s wooden sculptures and masks to date, showcasing the artist’s elegant color schemes, imaginative shapes, and material exploration. For example, one sculpture from 1956 takes the form of a smiling mother holding her child, while another from 1955 distills a pair of hands into an almost celestial pose. This variety of expression reveals Kanjirō’s inclination not only for craftsmanship but for innovation.
“Kawai was a multifaceted potter and artist working with various materials—clay, ink, wood, and bronze—throughout a lengthy career comprising three distinct phases,” Bambling and Tamae elaborate. “He advanced his ceramic skills by imitating ancient Chinese models during his early years in the 1910s; subsequently, he focused on practical ceramics in line with mingei principles; finally, in the aftermath of World War II, he delved into non-functional, expressive ceramic and wooden sculptures in a modernist style.”
This evolution is gracefully illustrated in *House to House*, which provides further context for Kanjirō’s creations by presenting them alongside those of his contemporaries. The exhibition includes several pieces by his close friends and fellow mingei artists, Shikō Munakata and Shōji Hamada, who also valued simplicity, utility, and the beauty of handmade items. Additionally, it examines Kanjirō’s collaborative works with Munakata, rooted in the former’s calligraphic and poetic expressions and the latter’s printmaking techniques.
“Though Kanjirō is recognized in Japan, we aspire for this exhibition to unveil the richness and scope of his work to American audiences,” Bambling and Tamae express. “He contributed to elevating the then-overlooked folk arts of Japan. The passage of time highlights his enduring appeal across generations.”
*Kawai Kanjirō: House to House* will be displayed at the Japan Society from March 10 to May 10, 2026.
Kawai Kanjirō’s iconic folk art will be showcased outside Japan for the first time in honor of mingei’s centenary.
Exhibition Information:
Kawai Kanjirō
*House to House*
March 10–May 10, 2026
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
Japan Society: [Website](https://japansociety.org/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/japansociety/)
*Quotes have been adjusted for clarity and brevity. My Modern Met granted permission to use photos from the Japan Society.*
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