Devotion to Catalunya: Three Spanish Masters in Clay, at YOKU MOKU MUSEUM
Devotion to Catalunya: Ceramics of Picasso, Miró, Barceló runs at YOKU MOKU MUSEUM in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo, from February 10 through December 20, 2026. The exhibition brings together ceramic works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and the leading contemporary master Miquel Barceló, tracing each artist’s lasting ties to Catalonia.
By AAJ Editorial Team
A Shared Homeland
Catalonia, the Mediterranean-facing region of northeastern Spain, has long pursued self-governance and a distinct culture of its own—a pursuit that held through the harshest years of the Spanish Civil War. Picasso spent his formative years in Barcelona. Miró called the village of Mont-roig the wellspring of his. Barceló, born on the island of Mallorca, shares deep cultural and visual ties with Miró, who later settled there himself. Each artist, in his own way, remained bound to Catalonia for life.
The exhibition is curated by Kenji Matsuda, a specialist in Spanish art history and professor at Keio University, and brings together these three artists across generations who turned to ceramics as a shared language.
Picasso and Miró: Friendship in Clay
Chapter 1 focuses on Picasso, who settled in France after the Spanish Civil War but never let go of his deep attachment to Barcelona, the city of his youth. On view are ceramic works from the same editions, or the same type, as those once held by his friend, the sculptor Manolo Hugué, alongside materials documenting Picasso’s gifts to the city of Barcelona and his connection to the Barcelona Picasso Museum.
Chapter 2 follows Miró, whose work was constrained under the Franco regime, and traces how his collaboration with longtime friend and ceramist Josep Llorens Artigas deepened his output in the medium. Bronze sculptures and poster works round out the chapter.
Barceló in Conversation with Shigaraki
A highlight of the exhibition is a new work by Miquel Barceló, now a leading figure in contemporary Spanish art. In 2022 and 2023, Barceló traveled to Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture, where he produced ceramic pieces with local ceramicist Kazuya Furutani—works now on public display in a Japanese museum for the first time.
The exhibition also features the commemorative poster Miró designed for FC Barcelona’s 75th anniversary, alongside the poster Barceló was commissioned to create for the club’s upcoming 125th anniversary, passed, in effect, from one Catalan master to the next.
Miquel Barceló & Kazuya Furutani, Self-Portrait in Shigaraki, 2022
Private collection
Miquel Barceló & Kazuya Furutani, Dance of the Dead(detail), 2023
Private collection
About YOKU MOKU MUSEUM
YOKU MOKU MUSEUM is located in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo. Its core holdings, the YOKU MOKU Collection, were selected by Toshiyasu Fujinawa, second-generation head of the confectionery brand YOKU MOKU, centering on the ceramic works of Pablo Picasso. The museum also runs hands-on programs incorporating art therapy and events built around the theme of confectionary and art. A cafe, shop, and library occupy the first floor.
YOKU MOKU MUSEUM, exterior
DATA
Devotion to Catalunya: Ceramics of Picasso, Miró, Barceló
Dates: February 10 (Tue) – December 20 (Sun), 2026
Venue: YOKU MOKU MUSEUM (6-15-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday)
Admission: General ¥1,400 / University students ¥1,000 (tax incl.)
※Free for high school students and younger with valid student ID
※Visitors presenting a disability ID may enter free of charge along with one accompanying person.
※Admission includes the concurrent permanent collection exhibition, YOKU MOKU Collection 2026.
Related Events: Commemorative lectures, gallery talks, learning programs, and other events will be held throughout the exhibition period. See the official website for details.
Official Website: https://yokumokumuseum.com
