Two works in the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
The museum holds Untitled from 1989 and 1992. Its official record identifies the 1992 painting as a purchase in fiscal 1992.
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS
View the worksKiyoshi Nakagami
In a national museum collection.
A painter of light, across the world.
From museums in Japan to New York, Paris and Mexico. Museum collections and solo exhibitions at home and abroad mark a career devoted to light in painting for more than half a century.
KIYOSHI NAKAGAMI / 20
20 milestones. One singular practice.
Public collections, an award, international exhibitions and solo shows. Follow the journey through records from museums, galleries and cultural institutions.
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A major museum solo exhibition: Light from Paintings
The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura presented his work from 4 January to 16 March, tracing recent paintings back to earlier work in his first major museum solo exhibition.
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Recipient of the 58th Yokohama Cultural Award
Yokohama’s official recipient list records his 2009 Cultural Award in the arts, recognizing contributions to the city’s cultural development.
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Selected for RIMPA at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
His participation in the museum’s RIMPA exhibition is documented in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ artwork record, connecting his practice to the context of Japanese decorative painting.
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Participation in the 10th Triennale-India
He participated in the international exhibition in New Delhi. The Japan Foundation’s catalogue for Japan’s presentation lists Nakagami among the participating artists.
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Among the Figures at Japan’s national museums
He was one of 15 artists in A Perspective on Contemporary Art: Among the Figures, shown in Tokyo and then at the National Museum of Art, Osaka.
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Collected by the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art
The museum holds Untitled (2007). Its collection data records dimensions of 227.7 × 145.5 cm for each component.
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A museum acquisition in Kanagawa
The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama purchased Untitled (2007) in fiscal 2007. The acquisition appears in its annual report.
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A work in the Yokohama Museum of Art collection
The museum’s collection data lists an untitled painting from 1993 under accession number 2018-OJ-003.
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Part of the Oita Prefectural Art Museum’s inaugural exhibition
His work appeared in the fifth section of Modern: Blossoming Garden—Oita World Museum, alongside works by artists including Ito Jakuchu, J. M. W. Turner and Yokoyama Taikan.
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One of six artists rethinking Nihonga
Nihonga Painting: Six Provocative Artists at the Yokohama Museum of Art featured Nakagami with artists including Fuyuko Matsui and Kotobuki Shiriagari, reconsidering the possibilities of Japanese painting.
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Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition in Korea
The Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition at Korea’s National Museum of Contemporary Art included Nakagami, Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara in its artist list.
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Beyond the Nihonga at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
He participated in Beyond the Nihonga—An Aspect of Contemporary Japanese Paintings, alongside artists including Takashi Murakami, Rieko Hidaka and Naoki Suwa.
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Challenging the boundaries of Nihonga at the Yamatane exhibition
He exhibited in the 13th Yamatane Museum of Art Prize Exhibition. The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura later noted that his work prompted debate about the definition of Nihonga.
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A New York solo exhibition at Miles McEnery Gallery
Held from 14 December 2017 to 27 January 2018 at the gallery then named AMERINGER | McENERY | YOHE, the exhibition presented his paintings of light and darkness.
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More than two decades of exhibitions at Galerie Richard
From a Paris solo exhibition in 2002 to Light in 2025, Galerie Richard’s biography documents more than two decades of exhibitions and an ongoing presentation of his work.
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Poetics of Shadow in Mexico
Opening at Colector on 25 January, the exhibition paired his paintings with a site-specific sound installation. His official biography identifies it as his first Latin American solo show.
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Light from Afar at LewAllen Galleries
LewAllen Galleries presented Light from Afar from 27 April to 3 June, introducing paintings whose luminous surfaces emerge through gold-toned pigment and gravity.
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Theophany in New York
Galerie Richard’s New York exhibition presented 12 new paintings between November 2018 and January 2019, continuing his exploration of light emerging from darkness.
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Light in Painting in New York
From 15 January to 22 February, Galerie Richard brought together 13 paintings made between 2012 and 2017, exploring variations in the placement, density and contrast of light.
From the career to the canvas.
The contour of light. The depth of shadow. Discover four works for yourself.
View the works