The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto Opens Two New Spaces in Its Collection Gallery — "MoMAK Masters" and "Richi Room"

Two new spaces have opened within the Collection Gallery at The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (MoMAK) as part of the museum's 2026 first collection exhibition: "MoMAK Masters" and "Richi Room."

MoMAK Masters

"MoMAK Masters" is a new corner dedicated to presenting highlights from the collection of The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. The corner features both beloved works long associated with the museum and lesser-known masterpieces across a wide range of styles, giving visitors — whether first-timers or returning guests — a chance to explore the depth of modern art.

The current display includes Mr. Samsa's Walk (1954) by Yagi Kazuo, an internationally acclaimed ceramicist regarded as one of the most important figures in postwar Japanese ceramic art. Also featured (first half only) is Young Ducks (1937), a late-career masterpiece by Takeuchi Seihō — a leading figure in the modern Kyoto school of painting, standing alongside Kanō Masanobu of the Muromachi period and Maruyama Ōkyo of the Edo period. Additionally, the exhibition traces the progression of abstract painting pioneer Piet Mondrian from his early to mature periods, drawing entirely from the museum's own holdings.

Featured Works

Yasui Sōtarō, Portrait of a Woman, 1930. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Takeuchi Seihō, Young Ducks (left and right panels), 1937. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (first half only)

Yagi Kazuo, Mr. Samsa's Walk, 1954. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Piet Mondrian, Composition, 1929. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Richi Room

"Richi Room" is a special corner celebrating the fantastical design world of Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno (1893–1967), a designer who was active in both Vienna and Kyoto. Through more than 700 wallpaper and textile designs from the museum's collection, visitors can immerse themselves in Rix-Ueno's colorful and imaginative world.

Featured Works

Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno, Wiener Werkstätte Wallpaper: Broad Bean (Green Ground), 1928. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno, Design for Easter Bonbon Box (2), ca. 1925–35. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Felice [Lizzi] Rix-Ueno, Print Fabric Design [Grove of Trees], ca. 1925–35. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Other Themes on Display

The collection exhibition also features the following themed sections:

• Shōwa Centennial: Japanese Painting in Kyoto
• Prints by Ida Shōichi
• Tomimoto Kenkichi, Kamoda Shōji, Kuritake Tatsusuke — Form Is the Body's Skeleton, Pattern Its Clothing
• Starting from the "Chernobyl Series"
• Suburbs and the City
• Itten and Moholy-Nagy
• Special Display: Kamoda Shōji and IM MEN (1st floor lobby)

Exhibition Details

Exhibition: 2026 First Collection Exhibition

Dates: March 28 – June 21, 2026

• First half: March 28 (Sat) – May 10 (Sun)
• Second half: May 12 (Tue) – June 21 (Sun)

Venue: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto — 4th Floor Collection Gallery (Okazaki Enshōji-chō, Sakyō-ku, Kyoto)

Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Fridays until 8:00 PM) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Closed: Mondays (open on May 4, a national holiday)

Admission:

• General: ¥430 (¥220 for groups of 20 or more, or evening discount on Fridays from 6:00 PM)
• University students: ¥130 (¥70 for groups / evening)
• Free for high school students and under, visitors under 18, and those 65 and over*
• Free for visitors with physical or mental disabilities and one accompanying person*
• Free for single-parent household members*

*Please present a student ID, proof of age, disability certificate, or equivalent documentation at the entrance.

Official Website: https://www.momak.go.jp/