Lisson Gallery Presents Leiko Ikemura's 'Motherscape' at Albertina, Vienna
Lisson Gallery announced Leiko Ikemura's exhibition "Motherscape" at the Albertina in Vienna on June 4, 2026. The show features paintings, drawings, sculpture, and an animated film, with scenography by the artist's architect husband, Philipp von Matt. Ikemura's poems appear in vinyl wall text in German and English. Works include the bronze "Usagi Kannon Janus (340)", a 11-foot rabbit-eared figure created after the Fukushima disaster, and the glazed terra-cotta "Gelber Hase" (1994), echoing Albrecht Dürer's "Young Hare". The exhibition also includes sculptures such as "Lyly" (2013/2023) and "Schwarzer Miko in blauem Rock" (1995), as well as the painted film "Carpe Diem" (2025). Ikemura's fluid movement between media—bronze, terra-cotta, tempera and oil on jute—blurs distinctions between unique media.
The Signal
The exhibition underscores Ikemura's exploration of "motherness" as a nonbinary metaphor for creation, a theme she has developed over decades. Her interdisciplinary practice, spanning sculpture, painting, and film, positions her work at a scale that moves beyond the museum. The inclusion of a film and electric-lit glass sculptures demonstrates her engagement with new media. For collectors, this show reaffirms Ikemura's standing as a significant contemporary artist, with her work addressing personal and collective histories, including the Fukushima disaster. The collaboration with the Albertina, a major institutional venue, signals continuing international interest in her practice.
- Artists: Leiko Ikemura
- People: Philipp von Matt
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Albertina
- Locations: Vienna
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