Making Waves: Japanese Woodblock Prints Coming to York Art Gallery
York Art Gallery has announced plans for its upcoming major exhibition, Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print, scheduled to open on 27 February 2026. Running through 30 August 2026, the seasonal showcase will be included as part of the venue's general admission.
Exploring Centuries of Printmaking in York
The upcoming display will highlight pieces drawn from the gallery's own holdings alongside notable external loans. Among the highlights is Katsushika Hokusai’s famous The Great Wave, which will be on loan from Maidstone Museum.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view items spanning from the 17th through the 21st centuries. Particular emphasis is placed on the 18th and 19th-century peak of the medium, featuring dynamic works by masters such as Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Hiroshige. These pieces illustrate the evolution of printing techniques while documenting shifts in Japanese society, nature, and culture.
What Visitors Can Expect
Alongside the gallery spaces, the surrounding York Museum Gardens will see the gradual development of a new Japanese-style garden. The exhibition will also incorporate interactive elements and a complementary events schedule focused on creativity and wellbeing.
To plan your visit or explore other local highlights using Musemap (musemap.art), you can check out what else is available across the city by viewing the museums list, browsing the interactive map, or checking out upcoming exhibitions.
