This special feature, drawn from works in the museum collection, focuses on the theme of “the city.” Many artists have made art that deals with the city, urban life, and the street. As we look back at these works of the past from a contemporary vantage point, certain characteristics of the era naturally emerge. This is not solely due to the fact that the rapidly changing urban landscape provides a clear reflection of social and economic conditions. It is also because artists approach the city like a mirror, gazing at their own lives and those of their contemporaries to detect the desire for wealth and comfort as well as expectations and anxiety about the future. In this exhibition, we examine how art reflects the times through some 110 pieces (including new acquisitions) that date from the 1950s, an era pervaded by the postwar atmosphere, to the 2000s.

In Collection Highlights, an exhibition on view throughout the year, we present some of the most notable works and new acquisitions from the museum’s holdings. These pieces, extending back to artists from the late 19th and early 20th century, such as Paul Cézanne and Max Ernst, are certain to shed light on aspects of art from the modern and contemporary era. The exhibition also provides viewers with an opportunity to view newly acquired works by artists such as Joseph Beuys, Takashi Murakami, Maureen Gallace, and Maria Farrar for an entire year. In addition, Elizabeth Peyton’s painting Jonathan (Jonathan Horowitz), a work that was added to the collection this financial year, is being shown for the first time at the museum.

Artists:
The Reflecting City
Ei Q, Tadashi KATO, Shigeru IZUMI, Nobuo SAWANOI, Tozaburo ONO, AY-O, Hiroshi KATSURAGAWA, Shigeo ISHII, Yutaka BITO, Tetsumi KUDO, Shigeo ANZAÏ, Genpei AKASEGAWA, Kiyoshi AWAZU, Yutokutaishi AKIYAMA, Daido MORIYAMA, Ryuji MIYAMOTO, Nana ANDO, Naruki OSHIMA, Naoya HATAKEYAMA, Takahiko HAYASHI, Toshio SHIBATA, Miriam CAHN, Kenji YANOBE, Fuyuhiko TAKATA, Tam OCHIAI, Yayoi KUSAMA, Chihiro MORI, Jac LEIRNER, Thomas STRUTH, Mike KELLEY, and others.

Highlights from the Collection
Jean(Hans) ARP, Donald JUDD, Emily Kame KNGWARREYE, Max ERNST, Yoko ONO, On KAWARA, Maureen GALLACE, Joseph CORNELL, Paul CÉZANNE, Luc TUYMANS, Nicolas DE STAËL, Sopheap PICH, Maria FARRAR, Joseph BEUYS, Beom KIM, Michaël BORREMANS, Agnes MARTIN, Joan MITCHELL, Takashi MURAKAMI, Kenji YANOBE, Sherrie LEVINE, Miwa YANAGI, Elizabeth PEYTON

• Exhibits are subject to change.

Period
March 14–June 14, 2026

Free admission days
March 14, April 4, May 2 and June 6.