Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within | Honolulu Museum of Art
Source: https://honolulumuseum.org/toshiko-takaezu-worlds-within-5g7n
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:29
Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within | Honolulu Museum of Art
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Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within
February 14–July 26, 2026
Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011) was one of the 20th century’s great abstract artists. This critically acclaimed major touring retrospective of her work fittingly has its final stop in Honolulu, where she began her art education and career.
The exhibition presents a comprehensive portrait of Takaezu’s life and work, reframing her as one of the most compelling and innovative American artists of the last century.
Born of Okinawan heritage in Pepe‘ekeo on Hawai‘i Island and raised on Maui, Takaezu was deeply inspired by nature, especially the Hawaiian landscape. Most noted for her “closed form” ceramic sculptures, these works often include “rattles,” adding an element of sound when the works are shaken. The exhibition, which features Takaezu’s work in ceramics, painting, textile, and bronze, also includes videos by Native Hawaiian composer and co-curator Leilehua Lanzilotti demonstrate the important, and often hidden, role sound played in Takaezu’s work.
HoMA’s collection includes 104 works by the artist and more than a dozen of them are featured in
Worlds Within
. The Museum’s long history with Takaezu began when she took painting classes at what was then the Honolulu Academy of Arts from 1947 to 1949. She had her first solo exhibition at the Museum in 1959 and another in 1973. In 1993, the Museum and The Contemporary Museum joined forces on a retrospective of her work covering 1950 to 1992. The artist visited the Museum throughout her life, the last time in 2010, just a year before her death.
Organized by The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, with assistance from the Toshiko Takaezu Foundation and the Takaezu family.
The exhibition and its national tour have been made possible through lead support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Lead Support for HoMA's presentation of the exhibition is provided by
Sharon Twigg-Smith in honor of James "Jay" Jensen (1949-2017)
Anonymous
The Conley Family Foundation
Supporter funds provided by Grant K.T. Kubota
TOP BANNER
Toshiko Takaezu in Hawai‘i with some of her works in 1987. Photograph by Macario Timbal.
Exhibition programming
On at HoMA
Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within Gallery Talk
Sun Jun 21 2026
2:00PM
-
3:00PM
Learn more about Toshiko Takaezu and her work from the curators who worked on this acclaimed show.
Honolulu Museum of Art
Galleries 10, 28 & Kina‘u Corridor Display Vitrines
Talk
Sun Jun 21
2:00PM
-
3:00PM
Tickets
Suggested stories
O Pepeluali kēia: E māka‘ika‘ mai!
HoMA celebrates Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with a Hawaiian-language tour brochure for Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within and curated ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi products in the HoMA Shop.
Story
Remembering Toshiko Takaezu: Artist Kaili Chun on the influential artist
Artist Kaili Chun shares memories of Toshiko Takaezu—teacher, mentor, and friend—and reflects on her lasting influence on art, clay, and life.
Interview
Let Trade Winds Flow
Discover Roberta Oaks’ Variety Block aloha shirt—handprinted in Honolulu and inspired by Hawai‘i’s breeze blocks found in mid-century architecture. Available now at the HoMA Shop.
Current exhibition
We have received your application. We will contact you when tickets become available.
Something went wrong. Please call to be put on the waiting list.
Added:
To wishlist
To the cookie settings
To the main content
To the footer
Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within
February 14–July 26, 2026
Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011) was one of the 20th century’s great abstract artists. This critically acclaimed major touring retrospective of her work fittingly has its final stop in Honolulu, where she began her art education and career.
The exhibition presents a comprehensive portrait of Takaezu’s life and work, reframing her as one of the most compelling and innovative American artists of the last century.
Born of Okinawan heritage in Pepe‘ekeo on Hawai‘i Island and raised on Maui, Takaezu was deeply inspired by nature, especially the Hawaiian landscape. Most noted for her “closed form” ceramic sculptures, these works often include “rattles,” adding an element of sound when the works are shaken. The exhibition, which features Takaezu’s work in ceramics, painting, textile, and bronze, also includes videos by Native Hawaiian composer and co-curator Leilehua Lanzilotti demonstrate the important, and often hidden, role sound played in Takaezu’s work.
HoMA’s collection includes 104 works by the artist and more than a dozen of them are featured in
Worlds Within
. The Museum’s long history with Takaezu began when she took painting classes at what was then the Honolulu Academy of Arts from 1947 to 1949. She had her first solo exhibition at the Museum in 1959 and another in 1973. In 1993, the Museum and The Contemporary Museum joined forces on a retrospective of her work covering 1950 to 1992. The artist visited the Museum throughout her life, the last time in 2010, just a year before her death.
Organized by The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, with assistance from the Toshiko Takaezu Foundation and the Takaezu family.
The exhibition and its national tour have been made possible through lead support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Lead Support for HoMA's presentation of the exhibition is provided by
Sharon Twigg-Smith in honor of James "Jay" Jensen (1949-2017)
Anonymous
The Conley Family Foundation
Supporter funds provided by Grant K.T. Kubota
TOP BANNER
Toshiko Takaezu in Hawai‘i with some of her works in 1987. Photograph by Macario Timbal.
Exhibition programming
On at HoMA
Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within Gallery Talk
Sun Jun 21 2026
2:00PM
-
3:00PM
Learn more about Toshiko Takaezu and her work from the curators who worked on this acclaimed show.
Honolulu Museum of Art
Galleries 10, 28 & Kina‘u Corridor Display Vitrines
Talk
Sun Jun 21
2:00PM
-
3:00PM
Tickets
Suggested stories
O Pepeluali kēia: E māka‘ika‘ mai!
HoMA celebrates Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with a Hawaiian-language tour brochure for Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within and curated ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi products in the HoMA Shop.
Story
Remembering Toshiko Takaezu: Artist Kaili Chun on the influential artist
Artist Kaili Chun shares memories of Toshiko Takaezu—teacher, mentor, and friend—and reflects on her lasting influence on art, clay, and life.
Interview
Let Trade Winds Flow
Discover Roberta Oaks’ Variety Block aloha shirt—handprinted in Honolulu and inspired by Hawai‘i’s breeze blocks found in mid-century architecture. Available now at the HoMA Shop.
Current exhibition
We have received your application. We will contact you when tickets become available.
Something went wrong. Please call to be put on the waiting list.
Added:
To wishlist