Tacoma Art Museum features the newest exhibit, Echoes of the Floating World, an exhibition highlighting the continuing influence of Japan’s ukiyo-e woodblock prints on contemporary art in the Pacific Northwest now through January 6, 2026.
Echoes of the Floating World features a striking collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints from the Tacoma Art Museum and others, displayed alongside works by contemporary Northwest artists. This exhibition honors the rich legacy of ukiyo-e while exploring its cultural impact on today’s artistic expressions.
Guest curator Kenji Stoll, a Tacoma-based muralist and tattooist known for his Japanese and American traditional ink, brings a unique perspective: “What’s really cool about this show is that you’ll see these [woodblock prints] in person, and you’ll also see the ways in which they influence artists who live and work right in our community…It’s a full circle moment,” said Stoll.
The exhibition will showcase the works of several regional contemporary artists, including Stoll; Hanako O’Leary, a craft-based sculptor and installation artist; Jorge Mota, an artist who weaves his Indigenous roots with his Mexican American experience; Lauren Lida, whose paper-cut art practice investigates her Japanese American heritage; Troy Long, a tattooer and artist based in Tacoma; VANVAN (Vanessa Jacob), a self-taught artist whose work is infused Echoes of the Floating World: Historic Japanese Woodblock Meets Contemporary NW Art with nostalgia for 20th century pop culture; and Yoshiko Yamamoto, a printmaker who merges her Japanese heritage with the natural beauty of her surroundings.
Echoes of the Floating World promises to be a thought-provoking exhibition that showcases the beauty of traditional Japanese art and highlights its relevance and influence on contemporary artists in our region. Museum visitors are invited to celebrate this rich cultural dialogue and the artistic legacies that continue to inspire new generations.
The Japanese woodblock prints will be shown in three rotations, so check TAM’s website for more information.
For Additional Information
Tacoma Art Museum
tacomaartmuseum.org