Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print’ will take centre stage at York Art Gallery from 27 February – 30 August 2026 in a stunning display of Japanese art and culture. Over 100 striking and iconic works from renowned artists, including Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige and Kitagawa Utamaro, amongst many others, will create a visually impressive display and provide intriguing insight into the history and development of Japanese woodblock printing.

‘Making Waves’ will offer visitors the chance to see Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’, one of the most recognisable and celebrated artworks in the world. This original print has been generously lent to York Art Gallery by Maidstone Museum for the duration of the exhibition.

Selections from York Art Gallery’s own extensive collection of Japanese prints, some of which have never been exhibited before, will be proudly displayed throughout the exhibition. These will accompany a range of incredible loans from regional and national institutions, such as early printed books from the British Library, stunning kimonos from Durham Oriental Museum, and a mesmerising selection of prints from Maidstone Museum and the British Museum. By bringing together a fantastic group of artworks, armour, costume and printed materials, the exhibition will bring the colourful world of Japanese prints to life for visitors.

Covering over 300 years of printing history, from the 17th to 21st centuries, ‘Making Waves’ will place particular emphasis on the heyday of Japanese woodblock printing in the 18th and 19th centuries. The exhibition will invite visitors on a journey through the origins and techniques of early printmaking, before looking at major themes including the ‘floating world’ of urban entertainments, the beauty of the Japanese landscape, legendary heroes and seasonal celebrations. Finally, it will explore how print artists responded to major changes in Japanese society, from Japan’s development into a modern industrial nation in the late 19th century through to the present day.

Contemporary Japanese woodblock prints are featured in the show, including several works by the current President of the Royal Academy of Arts, Rebecca Salter, which she creates in collaboration with Sato Woodblock Workshop, Kyoto. The exhibition will also include Japanese woodblock prints depicting the North York Moors by Scottish-based artist Laura Boswell. Visitors will likewise see works by London-based artist Nana Shiomi, whose 2001 print, ‘HOKUSAI'S WAVE (Right) - Happy Carp’,will be displayed alongside the very woodblocks Shiomi used to produce it, allowing visitors to gain a vivid understanding of the technical process of printing.
Entertainment and festivals, folklore and seasons, and travel and adventure all play a major role in these vibrant and technically advanced images. These dynamic designs remain popular centuries later and capture the imaginations of generations worldwide.

‘Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print’ will run from 27 February to 30 August 2026 and will be included in general admission to York Art Gallery. For more information and to book tickets, head to www.yorkartgallery.co.uk. For more information on the exhibition, visit Japanese Prints in York

Admisstion: Included with Gallery Entry Fee (Adult £8.50 Children 5-16 £5.10 under 5s free)