When Tokyo Gallery was founded in 1950, it became the first major location of contemporary art in the city. Western artists were already displaying their work, but at that time Japanese artists also began to explore this art genre. Many rose to international stature through the gallery. Artists such as Jiro Takamatsu, Kazuo Shiraga, Taro Okamoto, Mono-ha and others were promoted by the gallery early in their careers at various international locations. Walk through the gallery to discover other blossoming artists.
The gallery is also where you’ll find work from contemporary Korean and Chinese artists. Many of them are not yet well known but their increased recognition has added to the reputation of the gallery being cutting edge for artist discoveries.
In 2002, the gallery opened another location in Beijing called BTAP and rebranded itself Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, an acronym for Beijing Tokyo Art Projects.
Be among the first to become aware of these rising artists and also view the works of established talent by touring the gallery. Many of the new artists have works on display at other galleries and museums in cities such as Basel, Hong Kong and Miami Beach.
Find the gallery in the city’s Ginza neighborhood. While in this neighborhood be sure to see some of its other top attractions. The Kabuki-za Theatre hosts famous Kabuki performances featuring heavy makeup, expressive facial expressions and elaborate costumes. Walk past two bronze lions to enter the Nihombashi Mitsukoshi department store, which began as a kimono fabric store in 1673 and now offers an immense array of goods from everyday items to the world’s most luxurious brands. Even closer, the Ginza Mitsukoshi has impressive food halls and a grassy terrace for a picnic. Walk just a few minutes to Sukiyabashi Park to relax in the shade of dogwoods planted in recognition of commercial relations between the U.S. and Japan.
The Tokyo Gallery is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Use the identifier of Tokyo Gallery + BTAP to find it on smartphone map applications.
