The Facts
On June 24, 2026, the Mori Art Museum and Mori Contemporary Art Foundation announced that Katayama Mari, winner of the inaugural Mori Art Award Grand Prize, will open a solo exhibition at the museum on October 31, 2026, running through March 28, 2027. The biennial award, established in May 2025, targets mid-career Japanese artists or those with strong ties to Japan. Katayama received ¥10 million and the solo show, while three other finalists each received ¥1 million. The International Jury selected her for her use of analogue photography and handicraft techniques such as embroidery and needlework to explore bodily boundaries. The exhibition will feature her 'tree of life' series (2024-), recently acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The show is curated by Tokuyama Hirokazu and will be held in the Small Exhibition Gallery at Roppongi Hills Mori Tower.
The Signal
The Mori Art Award represents a significant new institutional prize for Japanese contemporary art, offering a substantial cash award and a major museum solo exhibition. Katayama's inclusion of the 'tree of life' series, now in the V&A collection, signals her rising international profile. For collectors, the award provides a curated signal of emerging mid-career talent from Japan, with the jury's emphasis on boundary-pushing material practices. The exhibition, held concurrently with another museum show, may draw increased attention to Katayama's market, particularly as her work bridges photography and textile-based installation.
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- Artists: Katayama Mari
- People: Tokuyama Hirokazu
- Galleries: Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve, Yutaka Kikutake Gallery
- Museums: Mori Art Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum
- Locations: Tokyo
- Prices: ¥10 million, ¥1 million
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