Establishment and Mission
The museum is located in Tenjinchō in central Okayama, conveniently close to Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle. It was established by Okayama Prefecture in 1988 as part of the redevelopment of the Tenjinyama district.
Its mission is to collect and exhibit outstanding works of art associated with Okayama, introduce artistic activities from both within and beyond the region, and contribute to the cultural development of the local community. The museum building was designed by architect Shinichi Okada, who is also known for his work on the Supreme Court of Japan.
Collection Policy and Exhibitions
The museum collects works connected with Okayama, covering a wide range of fields, including painting, sculpture, and traditional crafts. Among public art museums that emphasize local artistic heritage, it is particularly distinctive for its dedicated focus on artists and artworks associated with Okayama.
The permanent collection is presented through exhibitions titled “Art of Okayama,” offering visitors an introduction to the region’s artistic achievements. Special exhibitions and traveling exhibitions from museums throughout Japan provide further opportunities to appreciate a diverse range of high-quality artworks.
Educational Programs and Cultural Activities
The museum regularly organizes lectures and workshops led by curators and guest instructors. Through these educational activities, it encourages wider appreciation of art and provides opportunities for visitors to deepen their cultural knowledge. Its programs also contribute to the continuing development of artistic and cultural activities throughout Okayama Prefecture.
History of the Museum
The museum’s development began in 1985, when Okayama Prefecture established a preparatory office within its Planning Bureau. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 28 of that year, and construction was completed on July 1, 1987. The museum officially opened on March 18, 1988, and has since served as an important venue for sharing Okayama’s artistic heritage with the public.
Highlights of the Collection
Artists Associated with Okayama
The collection includes numerous works by painters and craftspeople with connections to Okayama. Notable artists include Sesshū, Miyamoto Musashi, Uragami Gyokudō, Ikeda Yōson, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, and Ono Chikkyo.
The museum also displays works by renowned Bizen ware potters Tōyō Kaneshige, Kei Fujiwara, Tōshū Yamamoto, and Yū Fujiwara, all designated Living National Treasures for their contributions to Bizen ceramics. Sculptures by Denchū Hirakushi are another important part of the collection.
Rotating Exhibitions and Notable Works
Exhibits are changed regularly to give visitors opportunities to discover different works. Classical paintings and Japanese-style paintings are generally rotated about once a month, while Western-style paintings, sculptures, and crafts are typically changed about once every three months.
Among the notable works are “Laozi” by Muqi, “Mount Lu” by Yujian, designated an Important Cultural Property, and “Landscape after Yujian” by Sesshū. Other highlights include Miyamoto Musashi’s “Hotei”, Uragami Gyokudō’s “Reading the Book of Changes in a Mountain Ravine”, Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s “The Circus Is Over”, and Denchū Hirakushi’s sculpture “The Angler of Izura.”
Selected Classical Paintings and Japanese-Style Paintings
The museum’s collection of classical works and Japanese-style paintings includes Yujian’s “Mount Lu,” designated an Important Cultural Property; Muqi’s “Laozi,” newly designated an Important Cultural Property in 2013; and Sesshū Tōyō’s “Landscape after Yujian,” also designated an Important Cultural Property.
Other works include Miyamoto Musashi’s “Dead Tree and Kingfisher,” from the painting “Hotei, Bamboo and Sparrows, and Dead Tree with a Kingfisher”; Uragami Gyokudō’s “Reading the Book of Changes in a Mountain Ravine”; Toyohiko Okamoto’s “Lin Hejing”; Chikkyo Ono’s “Evening Crimson”; Yōson Ikeda’s painting inspired by the haiku poet Santōka Taneda; a calligraphic work featuring a poem by Shitoku attributed to Jakushitsu Genkō; and a poetry screen by Daigu Ryōkan.
Selected Western-Style Paintings
Western-style paintings in the collection include Kazuo Sakata’s “Cubist Figure,” Naōjirō Harada’s “Landscape,” Bushō Hara’s “Portrait of an Old Man,” Kunishirō Mitsutani’s “Seto Inland Sea Landscape,” Takeshirō Kanokogi’s “Bather,” Hisashi Matsuoka’s “Man in the Costume of Pietro Micca,” Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s “Daybreak Is Coming,” Takashi Nakayama’s “Striped Apron,” and Toshio Arimoto’s “Conversation.”
Selected Crafts and Sculpture
Highlights of the crafts collection include Tōyō Kaneshige’s “Bizen Triangular Flower Vase with Raised Circular Decoration,” Fujio Koyama’s “Large Blue-and-White Porcelain Jar,” and Shōwasai Ōno’s “Mulberry Wood Box with Inlaid Wire Decoration.”
The sculpture collection includes Denchū Hirakushi’s “The Angler of Izura,” a notable work by one of Japan’s celebrated modern sculptors.
Access
On foot: Approximately 15 minutes east of JR Okayama Station.
By Okayama Electric Tramway Bus: Take a bus bound for Fujiwara Danchi and get off at the Bijutsukan-mae stop. The museum is a short walk away.
By Uno Bus: Take a bus bound for Shigōshin or Seto Station and get off at Omotechō Iriguchi. The museum is approximately a three-minute walk from the stop.
By tram: Take the Okayama Electric Tramway Higashiyama Line to Shiroshita stop. The museum is approximately a two-minute walk north.
Discover the Artistic Heritage of Okayama
From masterpieces of classical Japanese painting to modern Western-style art, ceramics, and sculpture, Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art offers a rich introduction to the artists and traditions that have shaped the region. Its changing exhibitions make it a rewarding destination for anyone interested in Japanese art, local culture, and the creative history of Okayama.