Worlds Within at the Chazen Museum of Art traces the evolution of Takaezu’s artistic practice
MADISON, Wis. — Embark on an immersive creative journey that engages the senses and sparks the imagination with “Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within,” on view Sept. 8-Dec. 23 at the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison). The first retrospective of Takaezu’s work in 20 years, “Worlds Within” illuminates her hybrid practice with over 100 objects, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of her vibrantly glazed ceramic sculptures and her transportive weavings and paintings. Visitors will also be invited to listen and imagine what fills the space inside her signature closed ceramic vessels — a hidden world that held great importance for the artist.
“This chronological exhibition will acquaint visitors with the innovation and multisensory experience that marked Toshiko Takaezu’s groundbreaking practice,” said Amy Gilman, director of the Chazen Museum of Art and senior director for the arts and media at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “Historically, UW–Madison has been a hub for renowned artists who shared their expertise with aspiring artists. Takaezu Toshiko was among those instructors, teaching courses early in her career in the mid-1950s. Presenting the exhibition at the Chazen is especially significant given the artist’s connection to UW–Madison and the University’s continued commitment to the arts, and we look forward to celebrating her enduring legacy as both an artist and mentor.”
Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011) is best known for creating expressively glazed “closed form” ceramic sculptures that ranged in scale from palm-sized works to immersive sculptural environments. Seeking to harness the expressive potential of both abstract painting and sculpture, Takaezu radically reimagined the vessel form as a pliable three-dimensional canvas and as site for limitless experimentation. Of Okinawan heritage and born in Hawai‘i, Takaezu’s phenomenal hybrid practice was informed both by her cross-cultural heritage and deep appreciation for the living environment.
The exhibition will include a vast collection of ceramic sculptures including her signature “closed forms,” Moons, Garden Seats, Trees and monumental pieces from her acclaimed “Star” series. Visitors will also see Takaezu’s rarely exhibited acrylic paintings and fiber works. Installations inspired by those Takaezu created during her lifetime — including a set table of functional wares from the early 1950s and an inviting constellation of enormous ceramic forms from the late 1990s to early 2000s — will transport visitors to the artist’s immersive worlds and offer a comprehensive look at Takaezu’s evolution. Sound will also play an important role in this exhibition as many of Takaezu’s closed ceramic forms contain unseen “rattles.” “Worlds Within” will give visitors a chance to explore these hidden soundscapes with videos developed by composer, sound artist and exhibition co-curator Leilehua Lanzilotti.
Takaezu’s journey into ceramics began in 1940 at a commercial studio in Honolulu. She honed her skills at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the University of Hawai‘i before furthering her studies at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art. An eight-month trip to Japan in 1955 profoundly influenced her practice. In addition to working as an artist, Takaezu was a prolific instructor, teaching ceramics at several institutions including the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1975, she established a live-in apprenticeship program in her Quakertown, New Jersey studio where she mentored students through lessons of technique and self-discovery. Today, her home still serves as a creative workspace for artists and students.
“Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within” is organized by The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, with assistance from the Toshiko Takaezu Foundation and the Takaezu family. The exhibition and its national tour have been made possible through lead support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art.
At the Chazen Museum of Art, the exhibition is supported by the Anonymous Fund.
The exhibition is co-curated by Noguchi Museum Curator Kate Wiener, independent curator Glenn Adamson, and sound artist and composer Leilehua Lanzilotti. The exhibition was conceived and developed with former Noguchi Museum Senior Curator Dakin Hart.
Following the exhibition’s presentation at the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, “Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within” will travel to the Honolulu Museum of Art (Feb. 13-July 26, 2026). The exhibition tour also included The Noguchi Museum (March 20-July 28, 2024), Cranbrook Art Museum (Oct. 9, 2024-Jan. 12, 2025) and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (March 2-May 18, 2025).