Kenneth Noland, Legend of American Abstraction — A Museum-Quality Exhibition Comes to Tokyo

Written by Saori Takeda, Publisher of ART Driven Tokyo

Step into the rhythm of color and form. Let your perception be set free and your emotions stirred.

The solo exhibition “Kenneth Noland: Paintings 1966–2006” is currently on view at Pace Gallery in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo, from March 7 to May 6, 2025. As one of the few museum-quality presentations of Noland’s work ever held in Asia, this is a rare opportunity not to be missed.

Kenneth Noland (1924–2010) was one of the founders of the Washington Color School, a movement that placed color itself at the forefront of painting. He was a key figure in redefining postwar American art. By adopting the technique of staining—allowing acrylic paint to soak directly into raw, unprimed canvas—he created a uniquely immersive visual experience.

This exhibition brings together major series from across Noland’s career, including Stripe, Shape, Plaid, Chevron, Diamond, Flares, Doors, Mysteries, and Into the Cool series.

Through repeated geometric forms, Noland developed a bold visual rhythm. His work conveys a sense of stillness, balance, and meditation through the interplay of color and shape.

In his Stripes and Diamonds from the 1960s, wide horizontal compositions seem to stretch beyond the frame, evoking vast landscapes made entirely of color. Beneath their calm surfaces lies a powerful emotional intensity. Noland deliberately removed the artist’s touch, instead emphasizing material presence and allowing for serendipitous interactions between bands of paint.

From the 1970s onward, he turned his attention to the canvas itself as a medium. Asymmetrical-shaped canvases gave his works a sculptural presence, asserting painting as an “object” rather than a mere “window.” These experiments culminated in the Chevrons and Flares series, where uneven applications of paint give the works a richly tactile quality.

By 2001, Noland had moved to Port Clyde, Maine, where the coastal light and landscape of the East Coast sparked a new wave of creativity. In the Into the Cool series, lively compositions of color and form evoke joy and movement, with abstract expressions reminiscent of the jazz music Noland loved so deeply.

This exhibition at Pace Tokyo is a rare chance to view and even acquire museum-caliber works up close. Experience the power of color and form with your own eyes—and your own heart.

Exhibition Information

Kenneth Noland: Paintings 1966–2006

Dates: March 7 (Fri) – May 6 (Tue), 2025

Venue: Pace Gallery Tokyo, Garden Plaza A Q-R Floor, Azabudai Hills
5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Admission: Free