Opening Soon! Area-Roaming Event 'Osaka Art & Design 2026' Brings Unmissable Works to Central Osaka from May 27
The 4th 'Osaka Art & Design 2026' begins May 27 across roughly 60 locations in central Osaka, featuring works by Kenji Yanobe, Mai Yoneyama, and others.
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The art and design festival 'Osaka Art & Design 2026', now in its 4th year, is finally starting. It will run for four weeks beginning Wednesday, May 27. Please fully enjoy the array of unique works presented by up-and-coming creators across approximately 60 locations in central Osaka, featuring notable public art and exhibitions in facility open spaces.
Furthermore, the event contents are even richer this year. Through participatory experiences distinct from typical exhibition viewing, we aim to help visitors connect more deeply with the appeal of art and design.
All of this is to envision the future of Osaka as a developing creative city, together with everyone. We sincerely look forward to your visit.
Program [Contents in Facility Open Spaces]
Yuichi Hirako
LAMPENFLORA "Illuminated Vegetation"
Period: Wednesday, May 20 - Monday, June 22
Venue: Osaka Umeda Twin Towers North 1st Floor Concourse / Hankyu Umeda Main Store 1st Floor Concourse Window
In a concourse untouched by natural light, the space is structured with an awareness of plants that thrive vigorously even in artificial environments. This is a work where you can experience a kind of vegetation that can only be created because people are present.
Maito Otake
Knit, Connect, Open
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Tuesday, June 23
Venue: Yodoyabashi Station One 1st Basement Floor, Yodoyabashi Square
Maito Otake is an artist who creates hollow three-dimensional works by hand-knitting fabric. Placed in the center of the city where subways intersect, this work emerges as a symbol that knits together time, memory, and culture while resonating with the flow of the city and people, connecting them to the future.
Program [Public Art]
Kenji Yanobe
Osaka Art & Design 2026 × ART OSAKA 2026 Special Exhibition
"SHIP’S CAT (Cosmo Red)" & "SHIP’S CAT (Little Cosmo Red)"
Period: Tuesday, May 26 - Monday, June 1
Venue: Grand Green Osaka South Building Valley Space
"SHIP'S CAT" has sown the seeds of life on Earth, watched over the birth of humanity, and returned to space. This is the first time the parent and child duo of Cosmo Red and Little Cosmo Red are exhibited together. The backward-glancing pose and blue eyes represent them gazing affectionately at the Earth.
Exhibition view at GINZA SIX (2025) Photo: Yasuyuki Takaki
Co-organizers: Osaka Art & Design 2026 / ART OSAKA 2026
Cooperation: Grand Green Osaka (Umekita MMO) / Kenji Yanobe Foundation / Osaka Creative Chishima Foundation / Kyoto University of the Arts Ultra Factory
Mai Yoneyama
Grand Front Osaka "ART SCRAMBLE"
Period: Scheduled to end in March 2027 *Varies by exhibited work.
Venue: Grand Front Osaka Umekita Plaza, etc.
"ART SCRAMBLE" is a project that supports artists taking flight nationally and globally. As the 11th installment, multiple works by Mai Yoneyama will be exhibited. Enjoy a worldview that delicately depicts movement, light, and the fluctuation of emotions.
Takenobu Igarashi
Building Block Bench
Period: Friday, May 22 - Thursday, June 18
Venue: In front of Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building / Shinsaibashi PARCO Sidewalk "Midosuji Hokomichi"
From graphic and product design to public art, Takenobu Igarashi has been active globally across a wide range of fields. The PARCO logo he designed (commonly known as the "Igarashi Logo") appears on Midosuji as building block benches. At PARCO HALL in Shinsaibashi PARCO, an exhibition "A-Z Homage to Takenobu Igarashi" will be held from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, June 14.
Program [Notable Exhibitions]
Mugi Nakajima
DIVING to NEW COLOR
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Monday, June 15
Venue: Takashimaya Osaka 6th Floor Gallery NEXT / 1st Floor Front Stage
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Monday, June 8
Venue: Takashimaya Osaka 7th Floor Event Space
Characterized by a style of pouring paint onto a tilted canvas and fixing the flowing trajectories. It will unfold across three venues. On Wednesday, May 27, a demonstration painting will also be held at the 7th Floor Event Space.
yutaokuda
yutaokuda solo exhibition
"With Gratitude"
Period: Wednesday, May 20 - Monday, June 8
Venue: Hankyu Umeda Main Store 8th Floor Contemporary Art Gallery
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Tuesday, June 2
Venue: Hankyu Umeda Main Store 1st Floor
Furthermore, the event contents are even richer this year. Through participatory experiences distinct from typical exhibition viewing, we aim to help visitors connect more deeply with the appeal of art and design.
All of this is to envision the future of Osaka as a developing creative city, together with everyone. We sincerely look forward to your visit.
Program [Contents in Facility Open Spaces]
Yuichi Hirako
LAMPENFLORA "Illuminated Vegetation"
Period: Wednesday, May 20 - Monday, June 22
Venue: Osaka Umeda Twin Towers North 1st Floor Concourse / Hankyu Umeda Main Store 1st Floor Concourse Window
In a concourse untouched by natural light, the space is structured with an awareness of plants that thrive vigorously even in artificial environments. This is a work where you can experience a kind of vegetation that can only be created because people are present.
Maito Otake
Knit, Connect, Open
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Tuesday, June 23
Venue: Yodoyabashi Station One 1st Basement Floor, Yodoyabashi Square
Maito Otake is an artist who creates hollow three-dimensional works by hand-knitting fabric. Placed in the center of the city where subways intersect, this work emerges as a symbol that knits together time, memory, and culture while resonating with the flow of the city and people, connecting them to the future.
Program [Public Art]
Kenji Yanobe
Osaka Art & Design 2026 × ART OSAKA 2026 Special Exhibition
"SHIP’S CAT (Cosmo Red)" & "SHIP’S CAT (Little Cosmo Red)"
Period: Tuesday, May 26 - Monday, June 1
Venue: Grand Green Osaka South Building Valley Space
"SHIP'S CAT" has sown the seeds of life on Earth, watched over the birth of humanity, and returned to space. This is the first time the parent and child duo of Cosmo Red and Little Cosmo Red are exhibited together. The backward-glancing pose and blue eyes represent them gazing affectionately at the Earth.
Exhibition view at GINZA SIX (2025) Photo: Yasuyuki Takaki
Co-organizers: Osaka Art & Design 2026 / ART OSAKA 2026
Cooperation: Grand Green Osaka (Umekita MMO) / Kenji Yanobe Foundation / Osaka Creative Chishima Foundation / Kyoto University of the Arts Ultra Factory
Mai Yoneyama
Grand Front Osaka "ART SCRAMBLE"
Period: Scheduled to end in March 2027 *Varies by exhibited work.
Venue: Grand Front Osaka Umekita Plaza, etc.
"ART SCRAMBLE" is a project that supports artists taking flight nationally and globally. As the 11th installment, multiple works by Mai Yoneyama will be exhibited. Enjoy a worldview that delicately depicts movement, light, and the fluctuation of emotions.
Takenobu Igarashi
Building Block Bench
Period: Friday, May 22 - Thursday, June 18
Venue: In front of Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building / Shinsaibashi PARCO Sidewalk "Midosuji Hokomichi"
From graphic and product design to public art, Takenobu Igarashi has been active globally across a wide range of fields. The PARCO logo he designed (commonly known as the "Igarashi Logo") appears on Midosuji as building block benches. At PARCO HALL in Shinsaibashi PARCO, an exhibition "A-Z Homage to Takenobu Igarashi" will be held from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, June 14.
Program [Notable Exhibitions]
Mugi Nakajima
DIVING to NEW COLOR
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Monday, June 15
Venue: Takashimaya Osaka 6th Floor Gallery NEXT / 1st Floor Front Stage
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Monday, June 8
Venue: Takashimaya Osaka 7th Floor Event Space
Characterized by a style of pouring paint onto a tilted canvas and fixing the flowing trajectories. It will unfold across three venues. On Wednesday, May 27, a demonstration painting will also be held at the 7th Floor Event Space.
yutaokuda
yutaokuda solo exhibition
"With Gratitude"
Period: Wednesday, May 20 - Monday, June 8
Venue: Hankyu Umeda Main Store 8th Floor Contemporary Art Gallery
Period: Wednesday, May 27 - Tuesday, June 2
Venue: Hankyu Umeda Main Store 1st Floor
FAQ
Where can I see Kenji Yanobe's 'SHIP'S CAT'?
It will be exhibited at the South Building Valley Space of Grand Green Osaka from May 26 to June 1.
Where is Mugi Nakajima's work displayed?
It is displayed at three locations in Takashimaya Osaka: Gallery NEXT, Front Stage, and the Event Space.
Where is yutaokuda's solo exhibition held?
It is held at Hankyu Umeda Main Store, on the 8th floor Contemporary Art Gallery and the 1st floor, starting May 20.