Watari Museum of Contemporary Art

Located in Shibuya, Tokyo, the museum opened in September 1990. Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, it is known for its unique ways of presenting contemporary visual arts. The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art stands together with the Mori Arts Center and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa as one of the major institutions in Japan and in Asia.
The museum invites curator-specialists from all over the world to present exhibitions with international artists striving for the development of contemporary art. Together with the exhibitions, the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art organized lectures, workshops for children and project rooms, showing equal interest in and attention to both established and emerging artists. At this gallery you’re sure to find something that can be considered “real art,” no matter what period or style it may be. Among many thematic exhibitions held at the museum, artists shown here include Japanese and international artists at all stages in their careers. Large retrospectives of Joseph Beuys, Larry Clark, Henry Darger, Jan Fabre, Federico Herrero, Mike Kelley, John Lurie, Barry McGee, Nam June Paik, were held at the museum during the past years. Although spread out over several floors, Watari-um’s exhibition spaces all pivot around the cavernous second floor gallery. The first floor is devoted entirely to the museum shop, an emporium of designer gadgetry, stationery, secondhand art postcards, and leather products. The basement houses both a café and the revered On Sundays bookshop.