On April 1, 2025, ICA Kyoto transitioned to a new structure
2025.04.01
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As of April 1, 2025, ICA Kyoto, set up in April 2020 as an adjunct to the Kyoto University of the Arts graduate school, acquired a new director, Kataoka Mami, replacing Asada Akira, who had been director since opening. This marks the shift to a new structure, and a new start, also welcoming Tsutsumi Takuya as program director, Kanazawa Kodama as special project director, and Kiri Atsushi as editorial director.
In concrete terms this will mean fulfilling the mission of ICA Kyoto by establishing global and Asian studies programs at postgrad level (building on the global seminars run from 2018–24); organizing talk and workshop initiatives such as international symposiums and a conference of Asian arts students; launching the online magazine ICA KYOTO JOURNAL, and collaborating with artists in a variety of programs.
International symposiums are platforms for encouraging international dialogue and interaction around contemporary art. Through collaborations that go beyond region and culture, they welcome the myriad practitioners that sustain the art scene, inviting them to examine the ecosystem of that scene. In 2022 discussions were held to explore the possibility of forming a community of three cities of similar historical background and scale – Kyoto, Chiang Mai, and Yogyakarta. In 2025, under Takuya Tsutsumi, symposiums will explore the multilayered contemporary art relationships in Asia and their future, from multiple angles: that of the independent scene, intermediary organizations such as private foundations, and public art museums.
KYOTO Gathering for Asian Art Students
Organized by Kodama Kanazawa, this will be a conference of a few days’ duration bringing students from art schools in Asia together in Kyoto to discuss topics of mutual interest. The aim will be to revisit a current in art previously dominated by the West, in the Southeast and East Asia regions, which are geographically close and share much of their culture and history, yet have their own languages, religions, cultures, and pasts, and strengthen networks centered on the next generation of artists and curators.
ICA KYOTO JOURNAL
The ICA KYOTO JOURNAL, under Atsushi Kiri, is an online magazine for documenting and disseminating the activities of ICA Kyoto, and connecting Kyoto with the worldwide art scene. It will also include next-level reviews of exhibitions and other events, based on the ICA Kyoto program archive; contributions from people active in the art scene of various countries and locations; and articles by students. The aim will be to connect people of different ages and nationalities through words, while serving as a platform for a diverse range of writers.
Director of the Mori Art Museum, head of the National Center for Art Research; Kyoto University of the Arts Graduate School professor (from April 1, 2025). Joint artistic director of the 9th Gwangju Biennale (2012), artistic director for the 21st Sydney Biennale (2018) and the Aichi Triennale (2022). Board member (2014–20) then president (2020–22) of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM). Director of the KUA ANNUAL exhibition for the Kyoto University of the Arts 2017–19.
Program Director Takuya Tsutsumi
Completed his MA in cultural studies in 2019 at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland. Whether the purpose is creating exhibition spaces, or producing printed materials, he experiments with organically fluctuating roles and relationships with artists. Joint program director for the Yamanaka Suplex shared studio in Shiga.
Special Project Director Kodama Kanazawa
Contemporary art curator. Following 12 years at public art museums including the Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto, began working as an independent curator in 2013. Deals in domains outside the existing art framework, such as media art, manga, art and community, and art and disability. Has organized numerous exhibitions in Japan and overseas. Joint head of the consulting firm Code-a-Machine.
Editorial Director Atsushi Kiri
Gained experience as a writer and editor mainly in the NPO-based international cooperation and education sectors. In recent years has undertaken various projects designed to expand discourse space through art, revisiting the role of the media in modern society. Editor of “+5 (plus five),” online magazine of the Nishieda Foundation.
Deputy Director： Kazuya Nakayama
Advisory Board Chair： Akira Asada
Program Director： Takuya Tsutsumi
Special Project Director： Kodama Kanazawa
Editrial Director： Atsushi Kiri
Managing Director： Chiho Shimizu
Message from new Director Mami Kataoka
Amid the increasing globalization of art practice, ICA Kyoto was established in 2020 as an adjunct to the Kyoto University of the Arts graduate school, with the aim of plugging the city, with its deeply rooted traditional culture, directly into international trends in contemporary art. With the overhaul of arts majors at the postgrad level, ICA Kyoto is now positioned to play a more practical role in arts education and training the next generation of arts practitioners. As we connect the Kyoto-based art scene with global networks, we will be looking to place a particular emphasis on links within Asia, and deepen our mutual historical and geopolitical understanding of the region.In concrete terms this will mean fulfilling the mission of ICA Kyoto by establishing global and Asian studies programs at postgrad level (building on the global seminars run from 2018–24); organizing talk and workshop initiatives such as international symposiums and a conference of Asian arts students; launching the online magazine ICA KYOTO JOURNAL, and collaborating with artists in a variety of programs.
New activities under new directors
International symposiumsInternational symposiums are platforms for encouraging international dialogue and interaction around contemporary art. Through collaborations that go beyond region and culture, they welcome the myriad practitioners that sustain the art scene, inviting them to examine the ecosystem of that scene. In 2022 discussions were held to explore the possibility of forming a community of three cities of similar historical background and scale – Kyoto, Chiang Mai, and Yogyakarta. In 2025, under Takuya Tsutsumi, symposiums will explore the multilayered contemporary art relationships in Asia and their future, from multiple angles: that of the independent scene, intermediary organizations such as private foundations, and public art museums.
KYOTO Gathering for Asian Art Students
Organized by Kodama Kanazawa, this will be a conference of a few days’ duration bringing students from art schools in Asia together in Kyoto to discuss topics of mutual interest. The aim will be to revisit a current in art previously dominated by the West, in the Southeast and East Asia regions, which are geographically close and share much of their culture and history, yet have their own languages, religions, cultures, and pasts, and strengthen networks centered on the next generation of artists and curators.
ICA KYOTO JOURNAL
The ICA KYOTO JOURNAL, under Atsushi Kiri, is an online magazine for documenting and disseminating the activities of ICA Kyoto, and connecting Kyoto with the worldwide art scene. It will also include next-level reviews of exhibitions and other events, based on the ICA Kyoto program archive; contributions from people active in the art scene of various countries and locations; and articles by students. The aim will be to connect people of different ages and nationalities through words, while serving as a platform for a diverse range of writers.
New staff – profiles
Director Mami KataokaDirector of the Mori Art Museum, head of the National Center for Art Research; Kyoto University of the Arts Graduate School professor (from April 1, 2025). Joint artistic director of the 9th Gwangju Biennale (2012), artistic director for the 21st Sydney Biennale (2018) and the Aichi Triennale (2022). Board member (2014–20) then president (2020–22) of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM). Director of the KUA ANNUAL exhibition for the Kyoto University of the Arts 2017–19.
Program Director Takuya Tsutsumi
Completed his MA in cultural studies in 2019 at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland. Whether the purpose is creating exhibition spaces, or producing printed materials, he experiments with organically fluctuating roles and relationships with artists. Joint program director for the Yamanaka Suplex shared studio in Shiga.
Special Project Director Kodama Kanazawa
Contemporary art curator. Following 12 years at public art museums including the Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto, began working as an independent curator in 2013. Deals in domains outside the existing art framework, such as media art, manga, art and community, and art and disability. Has organized numerous exhibitions in Japan and overseas. Joint head of the consulting firm Code-a-Machine.
Editorial Director Atsushi Kiri
Gained experience as a writer and editor mainly in the NPO-based international cooperation and education sectors. In recent years has undertaken various projects designed to expand discourse space through art, revisiting the role of the media in modern society. Editor of “+5 (plus five),” online magazine of the Nishieda Foundation.
ICA Kyoto Staffs (2025/4/1-)
Director： Mami KataokaDeputy Director： Kazuya Nakayama
Advisory Board Chair： Akira Asada
Program Director： Takuya Tsutsumi
Special Project Director： Kodama Kanazawa
Editrial Director： Atsushi Kiri
Managing Director： Chiho Shimizu