Sketches of seven Japanese actors from the chest up, all looking to the left. Some look grave and others wear a wry smile. The bottom fifth of the sheet is gray with Japanese characters written in white.

The Artistry of Utagawa Kuniyoshi

October 7, 2023 - April 7, 2024

Museum Galleries

About

From heroic warriors and dynamic battle scenes to comical caricatures and playful satirical portraits, this exhibition brings together 17 diverse works by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (17971861), one of the most prolific print designers in 19th-century Japan. Kuniyoshis creativity and versatility inspired generations of students and artists, stimulating extensive study and scholarship.

This exhibition is dedicated to Elena Varshavskaya (19522023), a RISD faculty member (THAD) who spent her lifetime sharing her passion and love for Japanese ukiyo-e prints through teaching, presentations, and publications.

Curated by Wai Yee Chiong, curator of Asian Art.

RISD Museum is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with the generous partnership of the Rhode Island School of Design, its Board of Trustees, and Museum Governors.