National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, National art museum in Okazaki Park, Kyoto, Japan.
The National Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Okazaki Park within the Sakyō-ku district of Kyoto, specializing in modern Japanese works. The 1986 building by Fumihiko Maki sits amid greenery and combines clean geometric forms with large window surfaces.
The museum opened on April 27, 1963, as part of a government initiative to build national cultural institutions after World War II. The current structure replaced the original facility and was completed in 1986.
The name reflects both national status and a regional focus on Kansai artists who developed their own creative traditions. Visitors encounter ceramics alongside textile art and paintings in rotating gallery spaces that treat different media with equal importance.
The museum sits near the Heian Shrine and the city zoo, accessible by footpaths through the park. It closes on Mondays, while special exhibitions rotate throughout the year.
The collection holds two specialized groups from private donations: the Kawasachi Collection of Kawai Kanjiro works and the Ueno Collection of Bruno Taut materials. These holdings often go unnoticed but offer insight into personal artistic relationships and influences.
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