Futura to Unveil Hand-Painted Light Sculptures at the Noguchi Museum

Following his momentous exhibition of paintings at Eric Firestone Gallery in New York City, Futura returns with yet another special presentation to take place at The Noguchi Museum in the borough of Queens. The influential graffiti writer and contemporary artist will present a selection of hand-painted Akari light sculptures designed by Isamu Noguchi from 1952-86.

“Akari inspire many people to contribute creatively to what Noguchi called their ‘self-generative cycle.’ Owning Akari is like having and tending a garden; it’s a way to stay in touch with nature and the world. We are excited to see where Futura—like Noguchi, an open-to-the-world boundary-crosser—will take them,” said senior curator, Dakin Hart.

Noguchi’s inspirations for his Akari light sculptures date back to 1951 during the artist’s trip to Hiroshima in Japan. He observed illuminated paper lanterns called chochin that lined the Nagara River in the town of Gifu. The mayor of the city requested that Noguchi help revitalize the lantern industry and offered him a commission to create a series of lanterns. He used the term Akari, a Japanese word meaning “light” to label his series of light sculptures that were intended to be modular, customizable, and extensible. In his lifetime, Noguchi designed over 200 models.

Coinciding with the exhibition, the Noguchi Museum will host a limited-capacity book signing and print release event to commemorate the Rizzoli publication of FUTURA: The Artist’s Monograph alongside a limited edition print by Futura and Takashi Murakami. Visit Noguchi Museum’s official website to reserve tickets.

Elsewhere in art, Felipe Pantone will release a modular OPD3S sculpture edition as part of his signature Optichromie series.

The Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard)
Long Island City, NY 11106