CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 9/23/2025

In 'Yoshitomo Nara' the artist traces himself

For lovers of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, the Hayward Gallery’s new, 264-page, clothbound and gold-stamped exhibition catalog is the ne plus ultra. Beautifully printed on a creamy, uncoated paper, it includes 250 color reproductions spanning four decades worth of drawings, paintings and sculpture, alongside a wealth of previously unpublished photographs of the artist’s home, his studio and other personally important environments. It is filled with insight into Nara’s passions—including music, childhood experiences, environmental issues and non-violence. All-star essays, an interview and a Nara-authored playlist round out the texts, which conclude with a superb illustrated chronology. Featured image is Sleepless Night (Sitting) (1997).