5 Asian Art Exhibits Now at Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland is proud to be home to so many amazing cultures and nationalities. Our Asian/Pacific American community is a huge part of what makes us who we are. As we celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage month in May, head to the Cleveland Museum of Art to explore five beautiful celebrations of Asian culture on display right now.

Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow

May 25 to Sept. 7, 2025

"Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow" is a bold and expansive exhibition that blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary pop culture — including anime, manga and kawaii — to explore themes of crisis, healing and escapism in the face of historical trauma. Highlights include massive-scale works and a re-creation of the Dream Hall (Yumedono) from Nara, housing new Kyoto-inspired paintings that reflect on the spiritual and political power of art.

Landscapes by Arnold Chang: A Retrospective and Recent Acquisitions (張洪山水畫回顧展)

On display through Nov. 9, 2025

This installation traces the career of contemporary ink artist Arnold Chang and celebrates the CMA’s recent acquisition of his pivotal work "Secluded Valley in the Cold Mountains." Featuring 18 works by Chang alongside Jackson Pollock’s "Number 5, 1950," the exhibition highlights Chang’s evolution from traditional ink painting to more experimental approaches using photography and color.

Refocusing Photography: China at the Millennium

On display through Nov. 16, 2025

Focusing on the evolution of photography in China, the exhibition traces its shift from a tool of state propaganda under Mao to a medium of personal and artistic expression after 1978. Works by eight pioneering artists born during the Cultural Revolution show how photography was reimagined through performance, conceptual art and installation to confront China’s history, transformation and evolving identities.

Indian Painting of the 1500s: Continuities and Transformations

On display through Jan. 11, 2026

During the 1500s, Indian painting underwent a dramatic transformation, evolving from flat, abstract forms to richly detailed narratives influenced by Persian aesthetics. The rise of the Mughal Empire — especially under Emperor Akbar’s dynamic patronage — brought together artists from across the region, resulting in a vibrant new style marked by naturalism and energy. At the heart of this exhibition is the "Tuti-Nama," a beautifully illustrated manuscript created for Akbar around 1560–65, showcasing the groundbreaking fusion of Indian and Persian artistic traditions.

Juxtaposition and Juncture in Korean Modern and Contemporary Art

On display through Apr. 1, 2026

Featuring modern and contemporary Korean artworks collected over the past 15 years, the exhibition highlights striking contrasts through the intentional juxtaposition of visually and materially diverse pieces. Together, these works reveal how artists from different generations draw inspiration from the past to create new expressions and experiences.