About Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka
The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, which was established on February 2, 2022, has been long awaited for almost 40 years since its basic conception in 1983 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Osaka's municipal organization. The museum is holding exhibitions from a variety of perspectives, including Modigliani, SAEKI Yuzo, GUTAI, Japanese painting from Osaka, and design, based on its fascinating collection acquired over a long period of time.
Nakanoshima, where the museum is located, is the core area of the water city Osaka. The museum aims to become a new symbol of Osaka, and its vision is to "connect history and create the future," "encourage the circulation of information, knowledge, discovery, and inspiration," "make connections the driving force," and "contribute to Osaka. The Museum not only collects art works and holds special exhibitions, but also focuses on fostering the next generation by making archival materials available to the public, holding workshops, and holding solo exhibitions of young artists.
Access and Visitor Information for Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka
Address | Osaka Nakanoshima Art Museum, 4-3-1 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0005, Japan |
Tel | 06-6479-0550 |
Access from the nearest station |
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Opening hours | 10:00-17:00 (admission until 16:30) |
Closed | Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday), varies depending on the exhibition |
Admission | Varies depending on the exhibition. Please check the exhibition information. |
Facilities | Parking and bicycle parking, barrier-free access, multipurpose restrooms, parent-child restrooms (toilets for children, nursing room, diaper changing area) |
Note | Entrance to the ticket counter and exhibition rooms is from the 2nd floor; there is an elevator on the south side of the main staircase on the 1st floor. |
Official Website |
Highlights of the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka
Collections
The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka has a collection of representative domestic and international art and design works from the late 19th century to the present. The museum's diverse collection includes more than 6,000 pieces, including donated works, by famous foreign artists such as Modigliani, Dali, and Basquiat, as well as modern and contemporary artworks by SAEKI Yuzo, MURAKAMI Hanatake, SHIRAGA Kazuo, and others with connections to Osaka (as of April 2023; excluding donated works). (As of April 2023, excluding items on deposit)
The museum boasts one of the largest collections of works by SAEKI Yuzo, born in Kita-ku, Osaka, in Japan. From "The Wall," a representative work from his Paris period, to "The Postman," a work from his final years, the collection includes his masterpieces that provide a panoramic view of his painting career.
Other highlights include a nude by Modigliani and artworks by YOSHIHARA Jiro, leader of the GUTAI Art Association (GUTAI), both of which were highly acclaimed abroad.
Architecture
The architecture designed by architect ENDO Katsuhiko is another attraction. The core of the museum construction concept is the "passage" that runs through the museum. The "passage" is a series of walkways and pathways enclosed by a pedestrian arcade, with staircases and escalators that fold under the vaulted ceilings from the first to the fifth floors.
The black cube-like exterior may at first glance seem alien to the city, but the design was derived from the desire to "keep the museum from being buried in the city”.
Representative past exhibitions
The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka hosts a variety of exhibitions ranging from antiques to artistic movements such as folk art and GUTAI.
"Hello! Super Collection - 99 Stories" (2022)
"Modigliani: 35 Years of Love and Creativity" (2022)
"Japanese Painting from Osaka" (2023)
"SAEKI Yuzo: Landscape as Self-Portrait" (2023)
"Lautrec and Mucha: Ten Years in Paris" (2022)
"Art in Love with Design ♡ Design Jealous of Art (2023)' (Year 2023)
SHOP
dot to dot today
"dot to dot today" is a museum store opened as a place to connect dots (things and people, people and people). It offers a wide variety of stylish products, including interior goods, tableware, and stationery, selected from a free perspective.
Also recommended are products from designers and manufacturers with deep ties to Osaka, as well as SAEKI Yuzo's museum goods.
Opening hours | 10:00 - 18:00 |
Closed | Closed on Mondays (If Monday is a national holiday, open on the following weekday.) |
Website |
HAY OSAKA
This is the second store in Japan of "HAY", a Danish interior product brand whose philosophy is "good design is the right of every person". It offers high quality products, including furniture, lighting, and sundries.
The interior of "HAY OSAKA" was directed by product designer KURAMOTO Jin. The store is composed of three themes, "MARKET," "ROOM," and "MUSEUM," including a room that conveys the scenery of daily life. Visitors can experience the space creation proposed by "HAY", including rooms that convey the scenery of daily life.
The white walls, herringbone flooring, and wire mesh manufactured in Higashi-Osaka that is boldly deployed behind the cash register counter make the entire space an enjoyable place to store.
Opening hours | 11:00 - 18:00 |
Closed | No regular holidays |
Website |
Cafe and Restaurant Information
Musée KARATO, a café-restaurant, is located inside the museum. With an emphasis on beauty, health, and taste, this restaurant offers a colorful café menu using vegetables.
The "Special One-Plate Amusement Park" and "Musee Carrato Special Afternoon Tea Set" are limited to 50 servings, so don't delay. Terrace seating is also recommended on sunny days.
The menu, which can be enjoyed with both the sense of taste and sight, and the relaxing space will be a healing experience.
Opening hours | 11:00 - 21:00 (last entry at 19:30, last order at 20:30) |
Closed | No regular holidays |
Website |
Recommendations around Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art
YANOBE Kenji《SHIP’S CAT(Muse)》
"SHIP'S CAT (Muse)" is a work by contemporary artist YANOBE Kenji installed outdoors at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka. It is one of the internationally acclaimed "SHIP'S CAT" series, created in 2021 to coincide with the construction of the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art.
This giant sculpture is 3.5 meters high and features a white cat wearing a suit that looks like a space suit. The work is a guardian cat that watches over the museum, and it is hoped that it will become a symbol for the museum to transmit its message to the world. If you visit the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, be sure to stop and admire it.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OR ART, OSAKA
The National Museum of Art, Osaka is located in the western part of Nakanoshima, Osaka, a 3-minute walk from the Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art. The museum was originally established in 1977 in the building of the "Expo '70 Museum of Art" and moved to its current location in 2004.
The museum's collection consists of approximately 8,200 works of art (as of March 2022). The collection mainly consists of contemporary art works from the postwar period onward. Visitors can view a portion of the collection through the collection's regular exhibitions, which are held on a variety of themes.
The impactful exterior, inspired by the vitality of bamboo and the development and growth of contemporary art, was designed by Argentinean architect Cesar Pelli, who also worked on Abeno Harukas. Another highlight of the museum is that it is completely underground, a rarity in the world.
Osaka University Nakanoshima Centre
The Osaka University Nakanoshima Centre is the fourth campus of Osaka University, a 10-storey building located in the center of Nakanoshima. It actively holds exhibitions and public lectures, and is popular with many citizens.