This exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Praemium Imperiale. Created in 1988 by the Japan Art Association, the prestigious international award commemorates the legacy of Prince Takamatsu, who was dedicated to promoting world peace and understanding through the arts.
The Praemium Imperiale is presented annually to five distinguished laureates for outstanding lifetime achievement in painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film—fields not covered by the Nobel Prize. Since the award’s inception, 129 laureates have been recognized for contributions that touch the spirit, define our humanity and enrich the global community.
The focus of this exhibition is the 28 laureates who have lived and worked in the United States. They include Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass, Jasper Johns, I.M. Pei, Arthur Miller, Merce Cunningham. Richard Serra, and others equally luminous. The portraits and photographs of these laureates in the studios provide an intimate window into the world of some of the greatest artists of our time.
