York Art Gallery has announced a major new exhibition scheduled for 2026 that will feature iconic Japanese artwork, including renowned woodblock prints from both their extensive collection and prestigious loan pieces. The highly anticipated exhibition, titled "Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print," will showcase legendary works such as Katsushika Hokusai's famous "The Great Wave," which will be on loan from Maidstone Museum for the special presentation.
The comprehensive exhibition is set to open on Friday, February 27, 2026, and will explore the rich development of Japanese woodblock printing throughout history. The show will feature an impressive range of works spanning from the 17th to 21st centuries, with particular emphasis on the golden age of Japanese woodblock printing during the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, master artists including Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Hiroshige created vibrant and technically sophisticated images that captured the essence of Japanese culture.
Among the notable pieces to be displayed are Utagawa Hiroshige's "Asakusa Rice-fields and Torinomachi Festival" from the celebrated series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, part 4: Winter," created in 1857, and "Kozuke Province: Mount Haruna under Snow" from the series "Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces," completed in 1853. These works exemplify the artistic mastery and cultural significance of the woodblock printing tradition.
The exhibition will provide visitors with an in-depth understanding of Japanese woodblock printing techniques, showcasing the art form's origins while exploring how nature, society, and cultural changes influenced these masterpieces. Beyond the gallery walls, the experience will extend into the York Museum Gardens, where an exciting new Japanese-style garden will begin taking shape over the coming months, creating an immersive cultural environment for visitors.
"Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print" will run from February 27, 2026, through August 30, 2026, and will be included in the general admission price to York Art Gallery. The gallery plans to offer a comprehensive program of events designed to promote creativity and wellbeing alongside the exhibition. For additional information about the upcoming exhibition and related programming, visitors can access details through the York Art Gallery website.
