Yoshitomo Nara's First David Zwirner Solo Show Opens in New York
This autumn, David Zwirner will host Yoshitomo Nara's inaugural solo exhibition at the gallery, which will be his first significant solo showcase in New York in almost ten years. The exhibition is set to open on 29th October and will continue until 12th December 2026, occupying two spaces in Chelsea. It will feature a collection of new paintings, drawings, recent sculptures, and early works curated by Nara. Renowned for his mysterious characters, Nara's artistic journey has transitioned from personal reflection to cultural symbolism. Notable pieces include a fresh series of portraits with a gentler color scheme and large-scale sculptures inspired by clay models from 2024. Nara was born in Hirosaki, Japan, in 1959 and studied at Aichi Prefectural University and Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.
Key facts
- David Zwirner will present the first solo exhibition by Yoshitomo Nara at the gallery this autumn.
- The exhibition marks Nara’s first major solo exhibition in New York for almost a decade.
- The exhibition follows David Zwirner’s announcement in late 2025 that it would represent Nara.
- Opening on 29th October, the exhibition will span David Zwirner’s two Chelsea spaces at 533 West 19th Street and 537 West 20th Street.
- The exhibition brings together new paintings and drawings, recent sculptures and a selection of early works chosen by the artist himself.
- Among the highlights are a new series of front-facing portraits with a softer and more nuanced palette.
- Thirteen monumental sculptures based on palm-sized clay models created by Nara in 2024 will occupy the gallery’s 19th Street space.
- The exhibition runs from 29th October to 12th December 2026.
- Nara was born in Hirosaki, Japan, in 1959 and studied at Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts and the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in Germany.
- Nara has exhibited extensively at major museums and galleries worldwide, with his work held in leading public and private collections across Europe, Asia and North America.
Entities
Artists
- Yoshitomo Nara
Institutions
- David Zwirner
- Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts
- Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
Locations
- New York
- United States
- 533 West 19th Street
- 537 West 20th Street
- Chelsea
- Hirosaki
- Japan
- Germany