Free exhibition in the Rijksmuseum gardens: Isamu Noguchi

Playful sculptures and design classics

This summer, the Rijksmuseum takes you outside to the art of Isamu Noguchi. Today best known for his design classics such as the Akari lamps, but also one of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century.

For Noguchi, everything was part of one big visual world. In his work, he was constantly busy seeking to push the boundaries of sculpture, which included not only statues, but also playground equipment, furniture, lamps, theatre sets and entire gardens. He strove to let the space speak with his sculptures, sometimes with a touch of humour and a wink.

Ceramics and Akari lamps

You will discover this wink especially in the museum. In the Asian Pavilion you will see a selection of his innovative ceramics. Upon entering the museum you will see 30 of his iconic Washi paper Akari light sculptures and in the Beuning room a rare chess table that he designed for the exhibition The Imagery of Chess in 1944. You need a ticket to visit the museum. You can order it here .

About Isamu Noguchi

American-Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) is considered one of the most important modernist sculptors of the twentieth century and has left an indelible mark on the art world with his innovative approach to sculpture.

Noguchi travelled extensively in his life through America, Asia and Europe. In Italy he discovered marble, in Japan he became acquainted with ceramics, in Mexico he had a brief relationship with Frida Kahlo and he saw the power of large, public sculptures. As the child of a Japanese father and an American mother, his world citizenship is clearly reflected in the multitude of styles and materials he used for his sculptures: from (sur-)realistic to completely abstract, and from steel, aluminium and cast iron to bronze, granite and wood.

12th edition

Isamu Noguchi in the Rijksmuseum Gardens is the 12th in the series of free exhibitions in the Rijksmuseum gardens. Previous exhibitions with images by Henry Moore (2013), Alexander Calder (2014), Joan Miró (2015), Giuseppe Penone (2016), Jean Dubuffet (2017), Eduardo Chillida (2018), Louise Bourgeois (2019), Ellsworth Kelly (2021), Barbara Hepworth (2022), Richard Long (2023) and Lee Ufan (2024) to see.

Thanks

The exhibition Isamu Noguchi in the Rijksmuseum gardens is made possible in part by the Don Quixote Foundation/Rijksmuseum Fonds, Pon and the Rijksmuseum Club.