Yokoo Tadanori, born in Nishiwaki, Hyogo, is one of Japan’s most successful and internationally recognized graphic designers and artists.
He was often described as “Japan’s Andy Warhol”, with his work being very attuned to 60’s pop culture. However, Yokoo cites filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and writer Yukio Mishima as two of his most formative influences.
Later in his career, he retired from commercial work and took up painting. Since then he has remained active with exhibitions of his paintings every year and is a prolific graphic designer.
In November 2012, the Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art was opened in the refurbished west wing of the Oji Branch of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art. The museum’s primary objective is to maintain and display the collection of works donated by Yokoo himself. This collection contains about 3000 works entrusted by Mr. Yokoo.
The museum also features an Archive Room whose staff conducts surveys and research. The archive room contains an enormous number of reference material related to the artist. This vast store of information reveals the secrets of Yokoo’s creations and documents his extensive associations with many notable figures and constitutes an invaluable resource for postwar cultural history. Moreover, the Open Studio presents a host of different events, including lectures, workshops, concerts, and public productions of art, aimed at all generations, from children to adults.
Hours Open:
Tuesday - Thursday & Sundays: 10 AM - 6 PM
Fridays & Saturdays: 10 AM - 8 PM
For more information about the museum and how to access it, please visit their website.