Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum: Exhibition "Lucie Rie: Elegant Vessels Fusing East and West" to be Held

Exhibition Overview

This is the first retrospective in Japan in approximately 10 years for Lucie Rie (1902-1995), a leading British potter of the 20th century.

Born in Vienna, Austria, Lucie Rie was captivated by pottery making using a potter's wheel at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts and pursued a career in ceramics. While establishing herself as an artist, she was forced into exile by war in 1938, moving her pottery studio to London, England. Her works continue to fascinate many people with their delicate yet dignified presence, characterized by elegant forms created on the wheel, unique patterns made with sgraffito and inlay techniques, and rich colors produced by glazes.

This exhibition will also feature works by artists Rie interacted with, such as Josef Hoffmann, whom she met in Vienna, and Bernard Leach and Hans Coper, whom she met in London, re-examining their relationship with East Asian ceramics, particularly those from Japan. By unraveling Rie's works from her early career to her mature period, interwoven with the places, people, objects, and historical backgrounds she encountered, the exhibition delves into the origins of her forms and the beliefs expressed in her creations.

View Details

Highlights of the Exhibition

A Collection of Valuable Lucie Rie Works in Japan

Lucie Rie's works were first extensively introduced in Japan at an exhibition at Sogetsu Kaikan in 1989, and have since become widely popular through large-scale exhibitions in 2010 and 2015. This exhibition brings together Lucie Rie's works from across Japan, including the Inouchi Collection deposited at the National Crafts Museum (Kanazawa). Don't miss this opportunity for a retrospective in Japan after approximately 10 years!

Works by Related Artists Lucie Rie Interacted With Also on Display

Works by artists Rie interacted with, such as Josef Hoffmann, whom she met in Vienna, and Bernard Leach, Hans Coper, and Shoji Hamada, whom she met in England, will also be introduced. Lucie Rie's works, created against a backdrop of intertwining Eastern and Western influences, will be explored through the era she lived in and the people she met.

Immerse Yourself in Lucie Rie's World of Form in the Unique Exhibition Space of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

The main building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is an Art Deco building completed in 1933 as the residence of the Asaka Imperial Family. Enjoy the dialogue between Lucie Rie's delicate and elegant world of form and the architecture of the former Asaka Residence in a mansion space that brings out the inherent charm of vessels.

Related Programs

◎ Lecture

"Lucie Rie: Connecting East and West"

The exhibition supervisor will discuss Lucie Rie's life and works, and her connection to East Asian ceramics.

Lecturer｜Mieko Iwai (Chief of Crafts Department, National Crafts Museum, Exhibition Supervisor)

Date｜Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Venue｜Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, New Wing Gallery 2

Participation Fee｜Free (Exhibition ticket valid on the day required)

Capacity｜80 people (Pre-registration required, lottery if too many applicants)

Support｜Sign language interpretation and text display support available

※Applications can be made from the museum's website from Thursday, June 18, 2026.

"Mini Lecture by the Curator in Charge"

The curator in charge of this exhibition will introduce points for enjoying the exhibition and works for those encountering Lucie Rie's works for the first time, or those who want to quickly learn about the exhibition's structure and highlights.

Lecturer｜Kotoe Katsuta (Curator, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum)

Date｜Friday, July 31, 2026, 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM, Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Venue｜Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, New Wing Gallery 2

Participation Fee｜Free (Exhibition ticket valid on the day required)

Capacity｜80 people (Pre-registration required, lottery if too many applicants)

※Applications can be made from the museum's website from Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

◎ Workshop

"Let's Make Ceramic Buttons"

Inspired by Lucie Rie's ceramic buttons, let's create original buttons.

Lecturer｜Yuko Okazaki (Ceramic Artist)

Date｜Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Venue｜Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, New Wing Gallery 2

Participation Fee｜Free (Exhibition ticket valid on the day required)

Target Audience｜Elementary school students (upper grades) and above

Capacity｜Approximately 20 people per session (Pre-registration required, lottery if too many applicants)

※Applications can be made from the museum's website from Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

※The created buttons will be sent later.

◎ Access Program

"Sawa-kai: Touch and Talk Appreciation Session"

This is an appreciation session where participants touch buildings and artworks and share their feelings through dialogue. Why not pick up a Lucie Rie teacup in the "Koka" tea room and chat about what comes to mind?

Planning｜Kozue Handa (Part-time Lecturer, Meiji Gakuin University)

Date｜Sunday, July 12, 2026

Morning Session: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Afternoon Session: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Venue｜Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tea Room "Koka"

Participation Fee｜Free (Exhibition ticket valid on the day required)

Target Audience｜Junior high school students and above

Capacity｜Approximately 6 people per session (Pre-registration required, lottery if too many applicants)

※Applications can be made from the museum's website from Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

◎ Flat Day

The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is committed to creating an environment where everyone can enjoy safely and equally. Flat Day limits the number of visitors, allowing you to enjoy the exhibition in a relaxed environment.

① Relaxed Appreciation Day

Would you like to enjoy the museum at a leisurely pace, whether you have a disability or not?

This is a day when those who feel anxious in a crowded museum can enjoy the exhibition in a more relaxed environment than usual. Wheelchair users and those requiring assistance can also spend their time with peace of mind.

*Strollers cannot be used in the main building.

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Last admission 5:30 PM)

② Baby Hour

This is a time when families with babies can view the exhibition without hesitation.

Even the main building, where strollers are usually not allowed, can be entered with a stroller during this time.

Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Time when strollers can be used in the main building)

◎ Guided Tours Held Simultaneously

On Flat Day, guided tours by art communicators will also be held (pre-registration required).

Basic Information

Exhibition Name

Lucie Rie: Elegant Vessels Fusing East and West

English Title

Lucie Rie: Elegant Vessels Fusing East and West

Period

Saturday, July 4, 2026 - Sunday, September 13, 2026

Opening Hours

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)

*On Fridays, August 7, 14, 21, and 28, the museum will be open until 9:00 PM for special evening hours.

Closed

Every Monday *However, open on July 20, closed on Tuesday, July 21

Venue

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (Main Building + New Wing)

Admission Fee

General = 1,400 yen (1,120 yen) / University students (including vocational and specialized schools) = 1,120 yen (890 yen) / High school students, seniors 65 and over = 700 yen (560 yen)

*This exhibition requires a timed-entry reservation.

*Free for junior high school students and younger

*Free for holders of a Physical Disability Certificate, Ai-no-Techo (Rehabilitation Certificate), Mental Disability Health and Welfare Certificate, or Atomic Bomb Survivor's Health Handbook, and up to two caregivers (including Mirairo ID)

*Free for elementary, junior high, and high school students in Tokyo accompanied by a teacher for educational activities, and for the teachers themselves (prior application required)

*On the 3rd Wednesday (Silver Day), visitors aged 65 and over are free.

*On Wednesday, July 29, and Wednesday, August 5, the number of visitors will be limited due to Flat Day.

Organizers

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), The Tokyo Shimbun

Planning Cooperation

National Crafts Museum

Special Cooperation

Inouchi Collection, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Sponsor

DNP Dai Nippon Printing

Annual Sponsors

Toda Corporation, Bloomberg, Van Cleef & Arpels

Access

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum｜5–21–9 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo

[Meguro Station] 7-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line East Exit / Tokyu Meguro Line Front Exit [Shirokanedai Station] 6-minute walk from Toei Mita Line / Tokyo Metro Namboku Line Exit 1