Fujiko Nakaya

Fujiko Nakaya
Fujiko Nakaya is one of Japan’s most important contemporary artists. Participating in the 1960s performances of the New York-based collective Experiments in Arts and Technology (E.A.T.), she became internationally renowned for her immersive fog artworks. First created for the Pepsi Pavilion at Expo ’70 in Osaka they defy traditional conventions of sculpture by generating temporary, atmospheric transformations that physically engage with the public. Driven by early ecological concerns, Nakaya’s groundbreaking work is based purely on water and air—elements that have particular significance in light of the climate crisis. From the artist’s early paintings to her fog sculptures, single-channel videos, installations and documentation that reveal Nakaya’s cultural and social references, this in-depth survey offers a comprehensive overview of the distinguished artist's work.

FUJIKO NAKAYA (*1933, Sapporo) studied at Northwestern University in Illinois. Since the creation of the first water-based fog sculpture in 1970, her works have been incorporated in the designs of public spaces, major museums, and parks around the world. In 2018, she received the Praemium Imperiale, awarded by the Japanese state for outstanding achievements in the field of the arts.