Making Waves

Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print
27 February – 30 August 2026

Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print explores the history and development of Japanese woodblock printing, revealing its origins and techniques alongside the influence of nature, society and cultural change on this art form.

Opening 27 February 2026, this major exhibition covers over 300 years of printing history from 17th to 21st centuries and features over 100 striking and iconic works by world-renowned artists including Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige and Kitagawa Utamaro, amongst many others.

Japanese woodblock prints from York Art Gallery’s extensive collection, some on display for the first time, sit alongside incredible loans such as early printed books from the British Library, stunning kimonos from Durham Oriental Museum, and a mesmerising selection of prints from the British Museum and Maidstone Museum, including Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

This fantastic group of artworks, armour, costume and printed materials presents a visually impressive display and brings the colourful world of Japanese prints to life.