Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper
Feb 24, 2026 - May 15, 2026
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Unique for its strong natural fibers and its painstaking production techniques, which have been passed down from one generation to the next, washi stands out as a nexus of tradition and innovation. Washi, which translates to “Japanese paper,” has been integral to Japanese culture for over a thousand years, and the strength, translucency, and malleability of this one-of-a-kind paper have made it extraordinarily versatile as well as ubiquitous.
Washi Transformed features work by nine contemporary Japanese artists: Hina Aoyama, Eriko Horiki, Kyoko Ibe, Yoshio Ikezaki, Kakuko Ishii, Yuko Kimura, Yuko Nishimura, Takaaki Tanaka, and Ayomi Yoshida. Through highly textured two-dimensional works, expressive sculptures, and dramatic installations, these artists explore the astonishing potential of this traditional medium with a range of techniques—from layering, weaving, and dyeing to shredding, folding, and cutting. The breathtaking creativity of these artistic visionaries deepens our understanding of how the past informs the present, and how it can build lasting cultural bridges out of something as seemingly simple and ephemeral as paper.
image above:
Yuko Kimura
Shiwa Shiwa, 2020
monotype on pleated antique woodblock pages from Japan, collage
image courtesy of Verne Collection, photo by Will Slabaugh
Hina Aoyama
Musical score/ les Lotus jamais fane, 2010
black origami paper
image courtesy of the artist
Eriko Horiki
Washi Light Object ISHI, 2017
washi paper and resin mold, light fixture (steel)
image courtesy of the artist
Kyoko Ibe
Once Upon a Time #2, 2011
washi paper
image courtesy of Heather James Fine Art
Kakuko Ishii
Musubu W1, 2007
washi paper and pigment
image courtesy of the artist
Takaaki Tanaka
Land of Nest, 2019
kōzo (mulberry fiber paper), flax, iron
image courtesy of the artist
This exhibition is supported in part by Matson® with additional funding by County of Maui – Office of Economic Development.
Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper is organized by Meher McArthur and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.
Unique for its strong natural fibers and its painstaking production techniques, which have been passed down from one generation to the next, washi stands out as a nexus of tradition and innovation. Washi, which translates to “Japanese paper,” has been integral to Japanese culture for over a thousand years, and the strength, translucency, and malleability of this one-of-a-kind paper have made it extraordinarily versatile as well as ubiquitous.
Washi Transformed features work by nine contemporary Japanese artists: Hina Aoyama, Eriko Horiki, Kyoko Ibe, Yoshio Ikezaki, Kakuko Ishii, Yuko Kimura, Yuko Nishimura, Takaaki Tanaka, and Ayomi Yoshida. Through highly textured two-dimensional works, expressive sculptures, and dramatic installations, these artists explore the astonishing potential of this traditional medium with a range of techniques—from layering, weaving, and dyeing to shredding, folding, and cutting. The breathtaking creativity of these artistic visionaries deepens our understanding of how the past informs the present, and how it can build lasting cultural bridges out of something as seemingly simple and ephemeral as paper.
image above:
Yuko Kimura
Shiwa Shiwa, 2020
monotype on pleated antique woodblock pages from Japan, collage
image courtesy of Verne Collection, photo by Will Slabaugh
Hina Aoyama
Musical score/ les Lotus jamais fane, 2010
black origami paper
image courtesy of the artist
Eriko Horiki
Washi Light Object ISHI, 2017
washi paper and resin mold, light fixture (steel)
image courtesy of the artist
Kyoko Ibe
Once Upon a Time #2, 2011
washi paper
image courtesy of Heather James Fine Art
Kakuko Ishii
Musubu W1, 2007
washi paper and pigment
image courtesy of the artist
Takaaki Tanaka
Land of Nest, 2019
kōzo (mulberry fiber paper), flax, iron
image courtesy of the artist
This exhibition is supported in part by Matson® with additional funding by County of Maui – Office of Economic Development.
Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper is organized by Meher McArthur and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.