【MORI ART MUSEUM】Mori Art Award 2026 Grand Prize Exhibition: Katayama Mari Opens Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Mori Art Museum

The Mori Contemporary Art Foundation (MoriCAF) and the Mori Art Museum will hold an exhibition showcasing the work of Katayama Mari, winner of the Mori Art Award’s inaugural Grand Prize, from Saturday, October 31, 2026, to Sunday, March 28, 2027.

The biennial Mori Art Award was established in May 2025 by the MoriCAF. The Japan-based Nomination
Committee first creates a shortlist of mid-career Japanese artists, or artists with strong connections to Japan, based on exceptional exhibitions and works from the previous two years. The International Jury selects four finalists after reviewing the shortlisted artists’ submission materials and determines the Grand Prize winner following an in-person screening process. The Grand Prize recipient is awarded ¥10 million and the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition jointly organized by the MoriCAF and the Mori Art Museum. The other three finalists receive prize money of ¥1 million each.

The International Jury highly praised Katayama Mari’s work for the compelling ways it expands the boundaries of her own body. She achieves this through analogue photography and handicraft practices such as embroidery and needlework. She is expected to achieve further success on the international art scene. This exhibition will feature an installation that includes the “tree of life” series (2024-), Katayama’s recent work that is now part of the collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and served as a key reason for her selection.