Japan Society NY Announces New Gallery Director

Japan Society has announced Dr. Miwako Tezuka will take over directorship of Japan Society's Gallery from Joe Earle, who retires effective September 30. A Columbia University alumnus and NYC-based curator specializing in contemporary Japanese art, Tezuka will be the first Japanese director of Japan Society Gallery. Her tenure begins July 2, 2012. 

"I am honored to join Japan Society and to work with its dedicated staff to create exciting exhibitions and related programming that stir the imaginations of the New York audience and people the world over," said Tezuka, upon the announcement. "The uniqueness of Japan Society as a multidisciplinary organization allows us to develop projects that fully present the dynamic energy, diversity, and complexity embodied within Japanese arts and culture." 

One of Tezuka's most recent curatorial contributions to New York City was Asia Society's Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody's Fool in fall 2010. The major solo exhibition of Japanese Neo Pop artist Yoshitomo Nara achieved great popular and critical success, and received numerous rave reviews including one from The New York Times, which called the exhibition "a game-changer."

"Miwako is a well-regarded curator, who has an intimate knowledge of the New York art scene and a broad perspective of Japanese art in the global sphere," said Motoatsu Sakurai, President, Japan Society. "We look forward to the vision she will bring to the gallery. Her track record of expanding the dialogue between traditional and contemporary art will amplify Japan Society's status as one of America's premier institutions for exhibitions of Japanese art." 

In recent years Japan Society Gallery has seen record attendance and international recognition. KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games (spring 2009) was the second-best attended show ever at Japan Society Gallery, and Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters (spring 2010) was the best-attended pre-contemporary show of all time. In 2011 Bye Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven and Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art was voted 2011 "Best Show in a Non-Profit Gallery or Space" by the United States Section of the International Association of Art Critics. 

Japan Society's current exhibition is the critically acclaimed Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture, 1920-1945 (closing June 10), America's first survey of Japanese art deco, organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia, and touring the U.S. 2012-13.  Joe Earle's final exhibition as director will be Silver Wind: The Arts of Sakai H?itsu (1761–1828), opening on September 29, 2012.