Based on recent archaeological discoveries, Phoenix Kingdoms reveals the previously unknown splendor, sophistication, and extravagance of two kingdoms that flourished at the end of China’s Bronze Age.

Woodcut — where prints are made from the raised surface of a carved wooden block — is the oldest printmaking technique, developed in China in the 5th century.

Japanese print culture, which had flourished for more than a century with the production of color woodcuts, dramatically changed course in 1868 following the overthrow of the shogun and the elevation of an emperor who promoted modernization and engagement with the West.

In the Meiji era (1868–1912), Japan became active on the global stage, embracing new technologies, fashions, and design trends from the Western world.

Exquisite Chinese and Chinese-influenced ceramics from the Kyoto National Museum demonstrate the importance of Chinese art to Japanese tea culture.

Discover the delicate brushwork and profound simplicity of two still life ink paintings that have been treasured at a Zen Buddhist temple for centuries.

Takashi Murakami: Unfamiliar People — Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego is the first solo exhibition in San Francisco by Takashi Murakami (Japanese, b. 1962). An internationally recognized artist, Murakami is also a major figure in global pop culture whose influence extends to fashion, consumer products, curation, and entertainment. With a boldly colored, upbeat style and a pop sensibility that draws inspiration from anime and manga, Murakami’s accessible and fun creations deliver more than meets the eye: beneath the surface of his work lies a nuanced examination of human behavior, informed by historical and art-historical references and a wry sense of humor.

Hell: Arts of Asian Underworlds is a rollicking romp through the many ways that Asian visual cultures have imagined the afterlife of the condemned over time. Paintings, sculptures, maps, puppets, and religious objects from India, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines offer a colorful variety of visions of the underworld, ranging from the serious to the light-hearted.

Dance is everywhere in the arts of the Indian cultural sphere: from the sacred dance of a god bringing the world into being to the elaborate choreography of modern Bollywood, every move has meaning. From March 31 through July 10, 2023, the Asian Art Museum presents Beyond Bollywood: 2000 Years of Dance in Art, inviting all to discover the power of dance in the visual arts of India, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.