The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka will open in early spring 2022.
Over three decades have passed since the museum’s planning office was established in 1990. A museum project that first saw the light of day during the era of the bubble economy has now come to fruition. After overcoming major and very challenging social changes, the museum is finally ready to open.

Three decades might seem a long time to spend on preparing for the opening of an art museum. However, it has been a very productive time for collecting artworks. Thanks to the donation of a collection of works by Saeki Yuzo, acquisitions of major art pieces by innovative and influential artists of different periods, such as Amedeo Modigliani, René Magritte, and Frank Stella, as well as generous donations from members of the public, the museum’s holdings now exceed 5,700 works, making this one of the top collections in Japan.

In the lead up to the World Expo (Osaka-Kansai Expo) in 2025, Osaka is in the process of producing a new picture of the future.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic cast a dark shadow over the picture that had begun to take form. Despite living in times that are a mixture of light and darkness, we are working hand in hand with city residents, or engaging in discussion with city residents, to bring together projects and activities with a vision for a new art museum, creating an institution that thrives in society, relevant both during and after the pandemic.

The Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka aims to serve city residents as a platform that is both a starting point and a driving force for art by holding exhibitions that can be enjoyed by many and by providing facilities that are a joy to visit.

Sugaya Tomio
Director, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka