Art Incubation Series 21 | Juried Open Call

THE ART OF SHO III

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 
January 22-27, 2026 (Closed on January 25, 26)
Reception and Performance : Friday, January 23, 6-8pm

The new series exhibition “Art of Sho III” is the 21st installment of a series of exhibitions (formerly known as 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 introducing Japanese culture. The exhibition focuses on the theme of “Sho” (Japanese calligraphy) and features works by 20 artists selected through an open call and juried process. This series highlights interesting works by artists mainly active in Japan, regardless of genre or background, introducing them to the cutting-edge global art scene. It also includes leading figures based in New York who are active worldwide, facilitating effective exchanges and mutual inspiration.

The exhibition series has continued since last year with “Stepping Into A World VI” (Series 20, featuring 38 artists), as well as the more casual “Art Incubation Series 22, Gallery 60NYC, featuring 5 group of artists, and “100 Artists of the World” (Series 23, showcasing 6 artists on the large screen in Times Square, 1530 Broadway between 44th adn 45th Street / or 3 Times Square). Together, these 4 projects will create a wave of Japanese art in New York this winter again. 

The judges for the open call are Dr. Les Joynes (Columbia University Research Scholar, Curator), Jason Patrick Voegele (Curator, writer, art consultant), Motoichi Adachi (Emmy Award-winning TV writer), and Kyoko Sato (Curator).

In this series, up until the 19th installment in April 2025, we have already introduced about 250 Japanese artists. Furthermore, over 25 of these artists have since been exhibited in other galleries in New York. This spring, we plan to introduce an additional 68 artists, bringing many more outstanding Japanese artists into the New York art scene.

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“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

In 2021, the Agency for Cultural Affairs registered “Shodo” (Japanese calligraphy) as an Intangible Cultural Property. However, a survey conducted by the Agency in 2020 revealed that, due to changes in lifestyle, opportunities for Japanese people to write characters with a brush have become extremely rare, as have opportunities to appreciate calligraphy.

Shodo is the art of writing characters, primarily using a brush and ink, usually on paper. It is said that kanji characters were introduced to Japan from China in the 5th century, along with the study of calligraphy techniques. While it is necessary to preserve and pass down this art and skill steeped in history, it is interesting to note that new styles have been developed to suit the times.

From the Muromachi period onward, the tea ceremony gained prominence, and calligraphy scrolls, known as “bokuseki” (ink traces) written by Zen monks, began to be used at tea gatherings. Additionally, in the Heian period around 900 AD, hiragana was created, and by the mid-Heian period, a uniquely Japanese calligraphy style known as “wayō” emerged. During this period, waka poetry flourished, and kana calligraphy techniques such as “chirashi-gaki” (scattered writing) and “renmen” (continuous writing) were developed.

During the Edo period, when Japan was largely isolated from the world, the country’s unique culture flourished, and new forms of calligraphy emerged. In the early Edo period, the “Three Calligraphy Masters of the Kan’ei Era” – Konoe Nobutada, Hon’ami Kōetsu, and Shōkadō Shōjō – made significant contributions. In the mid-Edo period, well-known figures like Mori Yūzan, Konoe Iehiro, Katō Chikage, and Ike no Taiga appeared. In the modern era, influenced by Western ideas, museums and galleries were established, and calligraphy began to be exhibited in such venues. Calligraphy associations formed by calligraphers became central to preserving traditional Shodo today.

Because Shodo is a cultural form with a rich tradition that has been accumulated and passed down, the government recognized its value by registering it as an Intangible Cultural Property. Looking back at history, we see that innovative expressions have emerged over time, so I’d like to reflect on what “Sho” might look like in our current era. At the New York “The Art of Sho” exhibition, we will showcase works that freely express calligraphy as a culture that resonates with our modern society, which is shaped by cutting-edge technologies like AI and the global context, while honoring the traditional “wayō” style unique to Japan.

Moreover, when “calligraphy” is interpreted in a broader sense, it can refer to artistic expressions that use words or characters as visual art. In some cases, an abstract painting may evoke the qualities of calligraphy without using written characters at all. From this perspective, New York–based artists Bipasha Hayat and Kaiser Kamal (Bangladesh), Javier García Sánchez (Spain), and Xin Song (China) will take part in this exhibition with their innovative works that embody this expanded notion of “calligraphy.”— Kyoko Sato

Agency for Cultural Affairs. (2021). Registration of Shodo as an Intangible Cultural Property. Agency for Cultural Affairs.

[Grand Prize] Marc Kaigetsu
Marc Kaigetsu (Tanaka Kaigetsu), born in 1959, is a calligrapher and creative director based in Tokyo and Kanagawa. After graduating from design school, he joined a production company within a major advertising agency group and has been active as a creative director since 1990. Over several decades, he has led creative direction for advertising campaigns and promotional strategies across a wide range of industries, shaping the visual and conceptual direction of these projects.

While building his career in the creative field, he began studying calligraphy in 2010 and launched his professional activities as a calligrapher and typographer in 2020. His work, which fuses his extensive design experience with the expressive potential of the line, reflects a unique creativity that seamlessly bridges visual communication and calligraphic expression.

Kaigetsu has been recognized in both advertising and calligraphy. His awards and honors include the Asahi Advertising Award (1992, Asahi Shimbun), selections for the Mainichi Shodo Exhibition (2022, 2024, Mainichi Shimbun), the Sankei Shimbun Prize at the Sankei International Calligraphy Exhibition (2025), and the Excellence Award at the Tokyo Calligraphy Exhibition (2025), among others.

Art Incubation Series 23 | Open Call

100 ARTISTS OF THE WORLD V

Curated by Motoichi Adachi and Kyoko Sato
Presented by Vision Art Media

Times Square Screen @ 1530 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 (44th and 45th St) or 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036
January 18, 2026, 8-9pm

Artists:
Byakuen | KOZUI SHIGA | MAKIKO TOYA | RYU YOKOYAMA | TOSHIHIKO SHIMIZU | Uis. K

On the large screen at the center of Times Square, 6 artists will appear, exciting visitors from around the world.