#Japan #Tokyo #Nakamuraya Salon #Tomohiro Murata #Momoko Yamada

Nakamuraya Salon Artist Relay: 7th Edition

The Nakamuraya Salon Art Museum, led by director Hiroyuki Shimada, is set to open the 7th installment of its unique Artist Relay Exhibition from February 21 to May 24, 2026. This series aims to highlight and foster connections between artists, mirroring the gatherings of notable artists at the historic Nakamuraya Salon from the late Meiji to early Showa periods.

The Nakamuraya Salon was a significant cultural hub where sculptor Moruhi Ogiwara and painters like Toki Nakamura and Hachi Aizu congregated due to their shared passion for art, thus establishing a legacy in Japanese modern art history. The Artist Relay format connects the work of contemporary artists, providing a platform for emerging talents to express themselves.

For the 7th edition, the baton passes from animation artist Tomohiro Murata to artist Momoko Yamada, whose exhibition titled "Another Place" will run from February 21 to April 5, 2026. Yamada is renowned for her work in engraving and cloisonné, employing traditional methods to create lovingly crafted pieces that tell gentle stories. According to Yamada, creating art resembles crafting an additional safe space within one’s heart, a refuge where one can find solace amidst life’s challenges.

"Creating art is akin to forming another place in your heart. It allows for reflection on cherished memories and experiences, enriching this mental space for both artist and viewer," she expresses.

Yamada Momoko

• - Born: 1995, Tokyo
• - Education: Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts (Oil Painting) in 2021; completed her master's in Printmaking in 2023.
• - Solo Exhibitions: "Room with White Spider" (2021), "A Star" (2024)

Following Yamada's display, Shoichi Mizaizu will present his work during the exhibition called "Forms of Overlapping Everyday Life", running from April 15 to May 24, 2026. Having garnered inspiration from Yamada's practices, Mizaizu’s compositions are characterized by thick layers of paint and a tactile collage of materials such as fabric and paper, generating a unique visual presence that is both inviting and thought-provoking.

In Mizaizu's view, each common object slowly wears away with time and attention, capturing the beauty of the mundane and creating spaces for quiet contemplation amidst life’s hustle.

"My process combines collage with thickly applied paint, searching for harmony among diverse materials, generating textures that provoke myriad interpretations and emotional responses in the viewer," says Mizaizu.

Mizaizu Shoichi

• - Born: 1969, Nagano
• - Education: Graduated from Tama Art University (Oil Painting) in 1994

Exhibition Details:

• - Title: Nakamuraya Salon Artist Relay 7th Edition
• - Dates: February 21 - May 24, 2026
• - Yamada Momoko's Exhibition: "Another Place" (Feb 21 - Apr 5)
• - Mizaizu Shoichi's Exhibition: "Forms of Overlapping Everyday Life" (Apr 15 - May 24)
• - Opening Hours: 10:30 - 18:00 (Last admission at 17:40)
• - Closed: Tuesdays; transitional closure from April 6 - 14; open on May 5
• - Admission: 500 yen (Free for high school students and disabled individuals with one companion with proof)

Online Engagement:

You can follow the live coverage of both exhibitions on the museum’s YouTube channel, featuring studio talks and insights into the artists' creative processes.

For more information on the exhibitions and video streams, visit the Nakamuraya Salon Art Museum website.