Travel through Japan’s fascinating Shogun Era during the Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World exhibition, where 17th-century Japan is brought to life through meticulously crafted recreations, immersive experiences, hands-on activities and historical exhibits.
At the centerpiece of the interactive exhibition at the College of DuPage’s Cleve Carney Museum of Art is a more than 60-piece collection from the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Italy that has never been shown before in the United States.
Artwork from the Edo period, between 1603 – 1868, illustrates how the city of Edo (now known as Tokyo) flourished under the shogunate rule that embraced peace, prosperity, and the arts. The collection features intricate color woodblock prints and original paintings by the masters of traditional Japanese art, plus handcrafted pieces like games and household objects.
“Japanese art during this period had a massive influence on the development of Western art and culture,” said museum curator Justin Witte. “Two hundred years later, these images still feel fresh and innovative as they continue to inspire new generations of artists such as Takashi Murakami and Hayao Miyazaki, as well as creators of manga and anime.”
Katsushika Hokusai, widely recognized as one of Japan’s greatest artists, was instrumental in developing the ukiyo-e genre and modernized traditional print styles. Nine of his original masterpieces are on view, including one of the world’s most recognizable images, The Great Wave Under Kanagawa. The exhibit also includes 15 pieces by Utagawa Hiroshige, known for the One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series, as well as works by 15 of the two artists’ contemporaries.
In addition to the museum galleries, explore the several interactive places across the 10,000-square-foot interactive space, including: a streetscape walk-through experience, a kids area with traditional Japanese cultural activities, digital ukiyo-e stations to make your own masterpieces, an outdoor Japanese-inspired garden, and much more. Don’t miss the Immersive History of Manga & Anime exhibit, where every inch of the space brings a black-and-white comic book to life.
Lectures, workshops, festivals, and free programs are all part of the exhibit experience. Watch woodblock print demonstrations, take a sumi-e painting class, try Japanese calligraphy, and view films.
Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World runs through Sept. 21. Admission ranges from $12 to $32 ($12 tickets are available from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday). Add-on packages start at $25 and include audio tours, catalogs, and exhibition merchandise. For tickets or more information, go to hokusai2025.org, call the box office at 630-942-4000, or visit the Cleve Carney Museum of Art in suburban Glen Ellyn.
