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Two visitors view a gallery of works by Yoshitomo Nara, including two paintings and a large white fiberglass head sculpture of a child with tiny sheep on its hair.

Yoshitomo Nara

10 June – 31 August 2025

The largest ever European retrospective of one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, this exhibition dove head first  into the captivating, creative world of Yoshitomo Nara.

Celebrated across the globe for his powerful portraits with eyes that gaze back at the viewer, Nara explores themes of resistance, rebellion, isolation, freedom and spirituality.

This thematic exhibition, featuring more than 150 works in drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and ceramics, revealed enduring influences on the artist’s work, particularly nature and its mythology, the peace movement, the significance of home, and his interest in punk and rock music and popular culture.

‘Punk rock art for your inner child’

The London Standard

 

‘A true joy to look at.’

Time Out

Exhibition gallery

Sculpture installation of a small house with an artwork of a small figure next to the word home on the side in a large room with other artwork on the walls
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 1 of 11. Sculpture installation of a small house with an artwork of a small figure next to the word home on the side in a large room with other artwork on the walls
A gallery view of three works by Yoshitomo Nara: two paintings of children on the wall and a large white fiberglass head sculpture of a child with sheep on its hair.
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 2 of 11. A gallery view of three works by Yoshitomo Nara: two paintings of children on the wall and a large white fiberglass head sculpture of a child with sheep on its hair.
A person in a red and black checked shirt sat on the floor looking at a painting of a seated figure wearing a sheep like onesie
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Sleepless Night (Sitting), 1997. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 3 of 11. A person in a red and black checked shirt sat on the floor looking at a painting of a seated figure wearing a sheep like onesie
A person in a black jacket looking at a painting of a figure with their eyes closed against a dark background
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Miss Moonlight, 2020. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 4 of 11. A person in a black jacket looking at a painting of a figure with their eyes closed against a dark background
Two people in a large exhibition space looking at a collection of records displayed on one wall
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 5 of 11. Two people in a large exhibition space looking at a collection of records displayed on one wall
Two children view a large white sculpture of a teacup and saucer with small, round figures stacked on top of it, set against a bright blue gallery wall.
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 6 of 11. Two children view a large white sculpture of a teacup and saucer with small, round figures stacked on top of it, set against a bright blue gallery wall.
A museum visitor views a large painting by Yoshitomo Nara of a small girl with a menacing expression, dark hair, and a red dress.
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Missing in Action, 1999. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 7 of 11. A museum visitor views a large painting by Yoshitomo Nara of a small girl with a menacing expression, dark hair, and a red dress.
Two visitors view a gallery of works by Yoshitomo Nara, including two paintings and a large white fiberglass head sculpture of a child with tiny sheep on its hair.
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 8 of 11. Two visitors view a gallery of works by Yoshitomo Nara, including two paintings and a large white fiberglass head sculpture of a child with tiny sheep on its hair.
Two circular paintings on a white wall featuring stylized, frowning children. One is smoking, the other has crossed arms.
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 9 of 11. Two circular paintings on a white wall featuring stylized, frowning children. One is smoking, the other has crossed arms.
A boy in a red and black plaid shirt stands viewing a large painting by Yoshitomo Nara of a small, tranquil-looking child with red hair, against a bright blue wall.
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. In the Milky Lake /Thinking One, 2011. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 10 of 11. A boy in a red and black plaid shirt stands viewing a large painting by Yoshitomo Nara of a small, tranquil-looking child with red hair, against a bright blue wall.
Framed painting of a small house on fire on a green hillside and a large head watching the fire burn
Installation view of Yoshitomo Nara. Fire, 2009. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery.
View larger image 11 of 11. Framed painting of a small house on fire on a green hillside and a large head watching the fire burn

Articles & videos

Inside Yoshitomo Nara's beautiful studio sanctuary in Japan
Artist Yoshitomo Nara – an older Japanese man with grey hair over which he wears a black baseball cap, and wearing a black hooded top, stands in his whitewalled artists studio which has paintings on the wall and various materials propped against the walls and at the room's edges.
Video

Inside Yoshitomo Nara's beautiful studio sanctuary in Japan

Get an insight into the art and practice of artist Yoshitomo Nara as he offers a rare video tour of his studio.

5 things to know about Yoshitomo Nara
A person in a red and black checked shirt sat on the floor looking at a painting of a seated figure wearing a sheep like onesie
Article

5 things to know about Yoshitomo Nara

From his distinctive child-like characters to his love of music, enjoy an introduction to the celebrated artist.

Playlist: Yoshitomo Nara, London 2025
House sculpture inside a white gallery space with the words 'place like home' with a small figure painted on the side. The word 'Playlist' has been imposed over the top of the image
Playlist

Playlist: Yoshitomo Nara, London 2025

Listen to this playlist curated by the artist to accompany his installation My Drawing Room 2008, Bedroom Included.

Credits & partners

Yoshitomo Nara at the Hayward Gallery was co-organised by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Museum Frieder Burda and the Hayward Gallery. The Hayward Gallery exhibition was curated by Yung Ma. Bilbao exhibition curated by Lucia Agirre.

This was an expanded version of the touring exhibition from the Guggenheim, Bilbao, and Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, featuring additional work, including early sculptures and new paintings.

Generous support was provided by Hiroyuki Maki, the Huo Family Foundation and the Bukhman Foundation.

We are also grateful for key support from Marc and Lynne Benioff; BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York; and Pace Gallery. Our thanks also go to Lady Alison Deighton; H.S. Chau Foundation; Nicolas Dreyfus; Jenny Yeh, Winsing Arts Foundation; Eleanor and Francis Shen; the Japan Foundation; and the Japan House London Trust for their additional support.

The Huo Family Foundation Logo in black text
Bukhman Foundation logo with black text and an arrow symbol

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