3 unique features that make Tokyo Gendai one of the region’s most exciting art fairs

Don’t miss the performance art, thought-provoking talks, and a special spotlight on women artists and traditional crafts

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Written by Time Out. In association with Tokyo GendaiWednesday 3 September 2025

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Launched in 2023, Tokyo Gendai may be a relatively young art fair, but it’s quickly establishing itself as one of the most exciting events on Tokyo’s art calendar. Now in its third year, the fair continues to bring a fresh perspective to the art market, with a dynamic roster of local and international galleries, plus a robust programme that this year promises to be even more immersive and diverse than before.

Held from September 12 to 14 at Pacifico Yokohama, the three-day fair will connect Japan with an international network of galleries, artists, collectors and art enthusiasts. You can expect not only a wide-ranging gallery showcase but also an engaging line-up of curated exhibitions, talks, installations and performance art. Moreover, making their debut this year are a curator symposium as well as the Hana Artist Award, which celebrates emerging and mid-career artists.

Here are three special events in Tokyo Gendai’s line-up that make it an art fair not to be missed.

There’s a dedicated zone for installations and performance art

Photo: Tokyo Gendai

Easily one of the most compelling sections at Tokyo Gendai, Sato ‘Meadow’ is the fair’s dedicated installation zone, where 11 galleries will present large-scale, site-specific works and performance art. That’s double the number of installations compared to last year.

French artist Bernar Venet (Ceysson & Bénétière), will create a new work directly on the fair’s walls using a paint-covered metal bar to accomplish bold visual marks through physical gestures. Don’t miss Vertex, a live drawing performance by Danish artist Carl Krull (represented by Formation Gallery), whose signature technique involves layering lines that resemble topographic curves.

Meanwhile, Vancouver-based Douglas Watt (Unit 17) is debuting a new installation, Pit (2025), created specifically for Tokyo Gendai. This monument is an imaginative recreation of his local pool’s diving area, built using cardboard boxes. In addition, an art collective presented by Sokyo Gallery – comprising Kanjiro Kawai, Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach, Tony Marsh, Sylvie Auvray and a few others – is displaying trees at the fairgrounds to raise awareness about carbon emissions and sustainability.

To catch these live artworks in action, check the schedule before visiting.

There’s a series of panel discussions exploring the varied world of art

Photo: Tokyo Gendai

Art Talks has been one of Tokyo Gendai’s most popular features from the start, offering audiences the chance to engage in deeper discussions about art. This year’s programme lists eight panel sessions bringing together expert speakers, critics and curators to explore a wide range of topics.

If you're interested in the Japanese lens, don’t miss the session on post-war Japanese art collections and another focused on interpreting Japanese art. Asian art also takes centre stage, with one panel exploring its future, and another looking at the rise of art fairs across the region.

Other thought-provoking topics include the intersection of photography and contemporary art, as well as art’s relationship with nature.

There’s a special exhibition celebrating women artists and traditional crafts

Photo: Tokyo Gendai

The popular Tsubomi ‘Flower Bud’ section returns for its third edition at Tokyo Gendai, this time exploring two topics that have been drawing attention in the art world: the role of traditional craft in the context of contemporary art, and the contributions of women in a field where men have historically received more recognition.

This year’s exhibition features the work of three Japanese women artists who integrate traditional craft techniques into their contemporary practice: ceramics by Namika Naka (Taro Nasu), glass works by Ritsue Mishima (ShugoArts), and lacquer works and drawings by Chie Aoki (Sokyo Gallery).

The curation not only celebrates their work but also underscores the enduring relevance of artisanal methods in today’s art landscape.

For more information on Tokyo Gendai and to get discounted tickets, visit here.

Time Out Tokyo is a media partner of Tokyo Gendai.