Art Incubation Series 15 | Juried Open Call

STEPPING INTO A WORLD V

Curated by Motoichi Adachi and Kyoko Sato
Organized by Art Incubation Association of Japan

Gallery Max New York
552 Broadway, New York、NY 10012 |(212) 925-7017
April 24-30, 2025, 12-6pm | April 30 12-3pm | Closed on 27, 28
Reception and Performance : Friday, April 25, 2024, 6-8pm

The exhibition ‘Stepping Into A World V’ is the 15th installment in a series of exhibitions (formerly known as the Japan Contemporaries Series) that began in 2023, organized by Emmy Award-winning TV writer Motoichi Adachi and New
York-based curator Kyoko Sato, known for promoting Japanese culture. This exhibition will showcase the works of artists who passed an open call screening. The series features 25 artists, primarily from Japan, who create intriguing works regardless of genre or background, integrating them into the cutting-edge global art scene. Guest exhibitions will also feature frontrunners from New York’s art world, fostering effective exchange and mutual inspiration.

This time, the exhibition will include a new series themed around calligraphy, ‘The Art of Sho II’ (Series 16, Tenri Cultural Institute, featuring 24 Japanese artists). Additionally, the most casual installment of ‘Art Incubation Series 17’, Gallery 60NYC, featuring 10 artists) is planned, along with the ‘Well-being Art Exhibition,’ which supports underprivileged children in Southeast Asia. Simultaneously, the ‘100 Artists of the World IV’ exhibition will be held on a large screen of Times Square (1530 Broadway between 44th adn 45th Street, featuring 9 artists), stirring up another wave of Japanese art in New York this spring.

Up to the ninth installment in November 2024, the series has already introduced 186 Japanese artists. Furthermore, more than 20 artists have been taken up by New York galleries after the exhibitions. With this spring installment, an additional 60 artists are scheduled to be introduced, sending many outstanding Japanese artists into the New York art scene.

The judges for the open call are Joseph Ayers (Part-time Associate Professor, The New School, Parsons), Atsushi Hanada (Ginza Hanada Art), Motoichi Adachi (Emmy Award-winning TV writer), and Kyoko Sato (NY Curator).

” I approach the art world with the same mindset that I’ve used for many years in the Japanese TV industry. I want to
bring a fresh breeze of free-spirited ideas into a world that values long-standing traditions. Even if someone didn’t graduate from a famous art school or isn’t backed by a powerful gallery, a beautiful work is beautiful, and an interesting piece is interesting. I want to see captivating artists make a bold impact on the world stage. This time, I’m taking on that unconventional challenge.” — Motoichi Adachi

Japan was defeated in World War II, but afterward, many Japanese artists moved to New York, dreaming of success on the world stage. 80 years have passed since the end of war, and while the art world has changed, this trend remains constant. Many of the artists selected for the Stepping Into A World V exhibition are experiencing their first time exhibiting in New York, marking a major step forward in their careers.

Through this exhibition, visitors can get a comprehensive view of what contemporary Japanese artists are interested in, how they express themselves, and the techniques they use. Many of these artists will also perform, showcasing their diverse talents.

Historically renowned masters, such as Yasuo Kuniyoshi (who moved to New York in 1910), Yoko Ono (1951), Yayoi Kusama (1957), On Kawara (1965), Ushio Shinohara (1969), Hiroshi Senju (1993), Takashi Murakami (2001), and, more recently, Tomokazu Matsuyama (2002), all had their first exhibitions in New York. It’s hard not to hope that some of the artists in this exhibition will go on to become globally renowned like these figures.

When artists relocate to New York, their artistic styles undergo continuous evolution, influenced by the city’s vibrant, diverse environment. International guest artists bring with them a rich tapestry of cultural heritage that deeply informs their creative process. For example, Alex Cascone and Kate Fauvell (New York), Joseph Ayers (Florida), and Bipasha Hayat (Bangladesh) each weave elements of their homeland’s traditions and perspectives into their art. This blend of personal history with the dynamic energy of New York results in works that are uniquely reflective of both their cultural roots and the influence of their new surroundings. — Kyoko Sato

[Grand Prize] KUMIKO KAWASAKI
Born in 1956, Kawasaki is an artist based in Niigata who specializes in weaving art. Her works have been showcased in solo exhibitions in Japan and India, including the International Textile Retreat, India (2024), Northern Cultural Museum, Niigata (2013), Gallery Yoin, Niigata (2015), Chusoku Museum, Niigata (2016, 2023), Art Gallery Bandaijima, Niigata (2016), Yahikonooka Museum, Niigata (2017), Striped House Gallery, Tokyo (2019), Jiro Oyama Collection Museum, Niigata (2021) and Mitsukoshi, Aichi (2022). She is an associate member of ‘Nitten,’ Japan’s most prestigious open call art exhibition, founded in 1907. Kawasaki graduated from the Textile and Dyeing Course at Kyoto University of Art and Design in 2006.

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