Born in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan
1970–1972 Studied at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Osaka, Japan
1973–1978 Studied at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de Santa Isabel de Hungría, Seville, Spain
1990-2016 Professorship at the Universität der Künste/Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin, Germany
since 2014 Professorship at the Joshibi University of Art and Design, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Lives and works in Berlin and Cologne, Germany.
Selected solo and group exhibitions
2024
Trio, Modern Art Collections from Paris, Tokio and Osaka, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
A Bouquet of Flowers. Transient Beauty, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Düsseldorf, Germany
Travellers in the Mist, Larsen Warner, Stockholm, Sweden
The 70th anniversary of the city’s incorporation “Art Festival Okawa – Enjoy Town Art Museum”, Okay City Seiriki Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
Leiko Ikemura, Light on the Horizon, Heredium Museum, Daejeon, South Korea
Isa Mona Lisa, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany
My World, Singer Laren, Laren, Netherlands
Trio. Modern Art Collections from Paris, Tokyo and Osaka, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Nature Painting Nature, Pilar Corrias, London, United Kingdom
The stuff we are made of. Earthly sculptures of the present, Kunstmuseum Ahrenshoop, Ostseebad Ahrenshoop, Germany
Vis-à-Vis, City Museums Buonaccorsi Palace (Musei Civici Palazzo Buonaccorsi), Macerata, Italy
BACKSTAGE Engelberg, Backstage Engelberg, Zurich, Switzerland
Leiko Ikemura. With Blue Birds, PalaisPopulaire, Berlin, Germany
Opening Exhibition, Ueshima Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Trio. Modern Art Collections from Paris, Tokyo and Osaka, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Düsseldorf, Germany
Through Other Eyes, Franz Marc Museum, Kochel am See, Germany
Stopover, Sammlung Pohl, Marburg, Germany
2023
Fundatie Collection. Old and New Loves, Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, Netherlands
Word Script Sign. The Alphabet of Ar, KOLUMBA, Cologne, Germany
Inauguration of the new church windows, Wunderblutkirche St. Nikolai, Bad Wilsnack, Germany
2022
Flashbacks – 16. Leiko Ikemura, BUILDING BOX, Milano, Italy
Special Show – leading and emerging women artists, Galerie Karsten Greve, St. Moritz, Switzerland
K.I.P., Kunst in Puurs, Puurs, Belgium
Art Collaboration Kyoto – Special Exhibition: Ueshima Collection, Foyer of the ICC Kyoto New Hall, Kyoto, Japan
Leiko Ikemura: Anima Alma – Works 1981 – 2022, Fergus McCaffrey, New York, USA
Waterfalls and Spirit, Haus des Papiers, Berlin, Germany
2021
Finale — Director’s Cut, Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Festival MANAZURU. SCULPTED STONES 2021, Manazuru-Machi, Kanagawa, Japan
Papier im Raum – Spatial Paper, Haus des Papiers, Berlin, Germany
2020
Leeuwarden, Ceramic Museum Princessehof. Human After All. Oct. 10, 2020–Sept. 5, 2021.
Rostock, Kunsthalle Rostock. Leiko Ikemura: From East to East. Aug. 1–Oct. 25, 2020.
Karlsruhe, Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. Systemrelevant? Dass und wie wir leben. June 30–Sept. 27, 2020.
Lieberose, XXV. Rohkunstbau, Schloss Lieberose. Zärtlichkeit – Vom Zusammenleben. June 27–Sept. 20, 2020.
Berlin, St. Matthäus-Kirche. Leiko Ikemura – In Praise of Light. May 4–Sept. 13, 2020.
2019
London, Regent’s Park, English Gardens. Frieze Sculpture 2019. July 3–Oct. 6, 2019.
Tokyo, MOMAT-The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Emancipation of Humanity: Focusing on Works by Female Artists. June 18–Oct. 20, 2019.
Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Kurpark Bad Homburg. Blickachsen 12. May 26–Oct. 6, 2019.
Basel, Kunstmuseum Basel. Leiko Ikemura: Nach Neuen Meeren. May 11–Sept. 1, 2019.
Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett. In bester Gesellschaft: Ausgewählte Erwerbungen des Berliner Kupferstichkabinetts, 2009–2019. Apr. 13–Aug. 4, 2019.
Skärhamn, Nordiska Akvarellmuseet. Leiko Ikemura: Metamorphoses. Feb. 10–May 5, 2019.
Tokyo, The National Art Center, Tokyo. Leiko Ikemura: Our Planet – Earth & Stars. Jan. 18–Apr. 1, 2019.
Jerusalem, Museum on the Seam. The Case of Hiroshima. Jan. 11–Mar. 22, 2019.
2018
Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum. Autofiktionen: Zeichnung der Gegenwart. Nov. 17, 2018–Feb. 24, 2019.
Gladbeck, Neue Galerie Gladbeck. Leiko Ikemura: Female Genesis. Nov. 16, 2018–Jan. 11, 2019.
Berlin, PalaisPopulaire. The World on Paper: Deutsche Bank Collection. Sept. 27, 2018–Jan. 7, 2019.
Basel, Kunstmuseum Basel. Innen_Welten: Schenkung Betty und Hartmut Raguse-Stauffer. Sept. 15, 2018–Jan. 6, 2019.
Berlin, Stiftung Brandenburger Tor-Max Liebermann Haus. Im Atelier Libermann: Leiko Ikemura im Dialog mit Donata und Wim Wenders. Apr. 11–May 27, 2018.
Paris, Palais Brongniart, Salon du Dessin. Le Prix de dessin 2018 de la Fondation d’art contemporain: Daniel et Florence Guerlain. Mar. 21–Mar. 27, 2018.
2017
Osaka, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. Modern Representations of Human Figures – From the Collection of The National Museum of Art, Osaka. Dec. 16, 2017–Mar. 25, 2018.
Düsseldorf, Hetjens-Deutsches Keramikmuseum. Leiko Ikemura: Märchenwald. Nov. 3, 2017–Feb. 25, 2018.
Bonn, Bundeskunsthalle. Weather Report: About Weather Culture and Climate Science. Oct. 7, 2017–Mar. 4, 2018.
Ahrenshoop, Kunstmuseum Ahrenshoop. Ikemura und Nolde. July 15–Oct. 8, 2017.
Munich, Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste. Jung und wild: Die 1980er Jahre in München. May 24–July 9, 2017.
2016
Omaha, Nebraska, USA, KANEKO. Passion & Obsession: From the Collection. Nov. 12, 2016–May 6, 2017.
Belgrade, Belgrade City Museum and Cultural Centre of Belgrade. 56th OCTOBER SALON – Contemporary Art Exhibition: The Pleasure of Love. Sept. 23–Nov. 6, 2016.
Berlin, Kunst im Westend-DRK Kliniken Berlin Westend. Leiko Ikemura: Das unbekannte Archiv. Sept. 22, 2016–Feb. 28, 2017.
Reno, Nevada, Nevada Museum of Art. Leiko Ikemura. Aug. 27, 2016–Jan. 15, 2017.
Berlin, Haus am Waldsee. Leiko Ikemura… und plötzlich dreht der Wind. Feb. 19–Apr. 17, 2016.
2015
Bielefeld, Kunsthalle Bielefeld. Einfühlung und Abstraktion: Die Moderne der Frauen in Deutschland. Oct. 30, 2015–Feb. 28, 2016.
Maastricht, Bonnefantenmuseum. CERAMIX – Ceramic art from Gauguin to Schütte. Oct. 16, 2015–Feb. 5, 2016. Paris, La Maison Rouge. CERAMIX: art et céramique de Rodin à Schütte. Mar. 9–June 5, 2016. Sèvres, Sèvres-Cité de la céramique. CERAMIX: art et Céramique de Rodin à Schütte. Mar. 9–June 12, 2016.
Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. How We Appear, and Where Life Takes Us. Oct. 10–Dec. 6, 2015.
Cologne, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln. Leiko Ikemura: All About Girls and Tigers. Sept. 25, 2015–Jan. 31, 2016.
Berlin, Haus am Waldsee. Leiko Ikemura – Prelude: Ein Dialog mit Utagawa Hiroshige. Aug. 20–Sept. 6, 2015.
Cologne, Kolumba. Der rote Faden – Ordnungen des Erzählens. Sept. 15, 2015–Aug. 22, 2016.
Châteauroux, Couvent des Cordeliers & Musée-Hôtel Bertrand. OBJECTIF TERRE – 18e Biennale internationale de Céramique de Châteauroux. June 25–Sept. 20, 2015.
Roskow, Schloss Roskow. XXI. Rohkunstbau – Apokalypse. June 20–Sept. 6, 2015.
2014
Bonn, Gesellschaft für Kunst und Gestaltung. Phänomen Horizont. Nov. 23, 2014–Jan. 18, 2015.
Clarinda, Iowa, USA, Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum. Our People, Our Place, Our Time. Nov. 9, 2014–May 31, 2015.
Cologne, Kolumba. playing by heart. Sept. 15, 2014–Aug. 24, 2015.
Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, ALTANA Kulturstiftung im Sinclair-Haus. Leiko Ikemura – Zwischenwelten: Zeichnungen, Gemälde, Skulpturen. Sept. 14–Nov. 16, 2014.
Shanghai, China Art Museum. Wild Heart: Art Exhibition of German Neo-Expressionism Since the 1960s. Aug. 1–Sept. 30, 2014.
Ahrenshoop, Kunstmuseum Ahrenshoop. Das flüssige Element: Seestücke des 17. und 21. Jahrhunderts. May 25–Aug. 24, 2014.
Berlin, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien. Distant Observations: Fukushima in Berlin. Mar. 8–Apr. 27, 2014.
Nagaizumi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum. Leiko Ikemura: PIOON. Apr. 20–Oct. 14, 2014.
Nuremberg, Neues Museum Nürnberg. Leiko Ikemura: Burden and Lust. Mar. 7–Sept. 14, 2014.
2013
Paris, The Centre Pompidou. Donation Florence & Daniel Guerlain. Oct. 16, 2013–Apr. 7, 2014. Libourne, Musée des Beaux-Arts et Archéologie de Libourne. Esprit d’une Collection – Donation Florence et Daniel Guerlain. May 17–Sept. 21, 2014. Skärhamn, Nordiska Akvarellmuseet. Donation Florence & Daniel Guerlain. Sept. 20, 2015–Feb. 28, 2016. Aalborg, Kunsten-Museum of Modern Art Aalborg. Donation of Florence & Daniel Guerlain. May 21–Sept. 4, 2016.
Berlin, Berlinische Galerie. Art in Berlin: 1945 until now. Sept. 18, 2013–June 23, 2014.
Berlin, KW Institute for Contemporary Art. Painting Forever!: Keilrahmen. Sept. 18–Nov. 10, 2013.
Tokyo, MOMAT-The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. MOMAT Collection. June 4–Aug. 4, 2013.
Karlsruhe, Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. LEIKO IKEMURA: i-migration. Mar. 9–June 23, 2013.
Bern, Zentrum Paul Klee. Vom Japonismus zu Zen: Klee und der Ferne Osten. Jan. 19–May 12, 2013.
2012
Bonn, LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn. Von A bis Z – Grafische Werke des 20. Jahrhunderts aus der Sammlung Mülstroh. July 5–Aug. 19, 2012.
Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. Carpe Diem: Seize the day. June 30–Sept. 23, 2012.
Interlaken, Kunsthaus Interlaken. Innovationen in der Schweizer Kunst. June 16–Aug. 19, 2012.
Cologne, Kolumba. Leiko Ikemura: Mare e Monti. May 30–Aug. 31, 2012.
Düsseldorf, Museum Kunstpalast. Aus Passion – Die Sammlung Hanck im Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf. May 19–Aug. 12, 2012.
Jerusalem, Museum on the Seam. Beyond Memory. May 15–Sept. 1, 2012.
Berlin, Museum of Asian Art. Leiko Ikemura: Korekara oder Die Heiterkeit des fragilen Seins. Jan. 20–Apr. 22, 2012.
2011
Tokyo, MOMAT-The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Leiko Ikemura: Transfiguration. Aug. 22–Oct. 23, 2011. Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan, Mie Prefectural Art Museum. Leiko Ikemura: Transfiguration. Nov. 7, 2011–Jan. 22, 2012.
Chur, Bündner Kunstmuseum Chur. Lack of Space – Change of Place: The Collection in Motion. Sept. 24–Nov. 20, 2011.
Schaffhausen, Museum zu Allerheiligen. Mythos & Wirklichkeit. Sept. 17, 2011–Apr. 8, 2012.
Berlin, KW Institute for Contemporary Art. Breaking News: Fukushima and the consequences – Leiko Ikemura invites artists and architects. June 9–July 17, 2011.
Berlin, Georg Kolbe Museum. HotSpot Berlin – Eine Momentaufnahme. Apr. 15–Apr. 28, 2011.
Troisdorf, Burg Wissem Bilderbuchmuseum. Wusstest du, ich habe zwei versteckte Flügel: Künstlerbücher von Leiko Ikemura. Mar. 26–June 19, 2011.
2010
Osaka, The National Museum of Art, Osaka. Collection 3 Japanese Art 1950–2010. Nov. 27, 2010–20. 02. 2011.
Berlin, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien. We are the islands. July 25–July 27, 2010.
Arnsberg, Sauerland-Museum. Leiko Ikemura: August Macke Prize Laureate. June 6–Aug. 27, 2010.
Tokyo, MOMAT-The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Art of Modern Japan. Apr. 20–Aug. 8, 2010.