Yoshitomo Nara’s First Major UK Solo Exhibition Opens at the Hayward Gallery
- Gen de Art
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
This June, the Hayward Gallery will unveil Yoshitomo Nara, the long-anticipated first UK solo exhibition at a public institution by one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Running from 10 June to 31 August 2025, the exhibition promises a rare opportunity to experience four decades of Nara’s emotionally charged and genre-defying work—spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, and installation.
Best known for his enigmatic images of wide-eyed, child-like figures and animals, Yoshitomo Nara has captured global attention with his deceptively simple yet emotionally intense portraits. These characters—at once innocent and defiant—have become some of the most recognisable motifs in contemporary art, challenging viewers with their direct gaze and ambiguous mood.
“We have the tendency to overuse the word ‘iconic’ but in the case of Yoshitomo Nara, I can hardly think of a more apt description,” says Yung Ma, Senior Curator of the Hayward Gallery. “His wide-eyed figures have become some of the most recognised motifs in contemporary art. His work engages with us emotionally, exemplifying how the power of art can transcend beyond the walls of a gallery to reach people far and wide.”
Organised thematically, Yoshitomo Nara will offer a comprehensive look at the artist’s evolution, including rarely seen drawings and recent paintings such as Midnight Tears (2023), which blends fragility with emotional immediacy. The show also draws on his acclaimed retrospectives at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, while incorporating new works and UK-specific additions.
Born in Japan’s rural Tōhoku region, Nara was deeply shaped by the postwar landscape and his solitary childhood, spent listening to the Far East Network radio station for American troops during the Vietnam War. His exposure to antiwar folk, blues, punk, and new wave music became a formative influence—one that continues to pulse through his work both thematically and emotionally.
His later years in Germany, particularly as a student at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, further refined his artistic voice. Unable to speak German, Nara turned to his art to communicate—developing a visual language informed by Neo-Expressionism, European modernism, and a desire to push beyond the kawaii aesthetic often associated with Japanese pop art.
“Rendered in an appealing and deceptively simple style,” says Ralph Rugoff, Director of the Hayward Gallery, “Nara’s portraits of imaginary characters evince a psychological immediacy that bridges the gap between high art and popular culture. Conveying a compelling tenderness that speaks to our desire for connection, his pictures also tap into widespread feelings of alienation, anxiety, and resistance.”
The exhibition will also explore Nara’s response to pivotal events such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and Fukushima disaster, which sparked a more contemplative and politically engaged phase in his practice. Works like From the Bomb Shelter (2017) reflect his evolving worldview—an artist in dialogue with the pain and resilience of society.
Curated by Yung Ma with Assistant Curator Katie Guggenheim and Curatorial Assistant Charlotte dos Santos, the exhibition is supported by international patrons and accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue. Designed by Praline, the publication features newly commissioned essays and a revealing interview with the artist.
Yoshitomo Nara promises to be a landmark exhibition—one that continues the Hayward Gallery’s tradition of presenting groundbreaking contemporary art while offering audiences a rare and intimate view into the mind of an artist whose influence stretches far beyond borders.
Exhibition Details:
Yoshitomo Nara 10 June – 31 August 2025
Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Tickets:
£20 standard | Concessions available | Free for Southbank Centre Members
Opening Hours:
Tue–Fri: 10am–6pm
Sat: 10am–8pm
Sun: 10am–6pm
