The High Museum of Art is set to host Isamu Noguchi: “I am not a designer,” a sweeping retrospective that marks the first major exhibition dedicated to the artist’s design work in nearly 25 years.
Bringing together close to 200 pieces, the show explores the full scope of Isamu Noguchi’s multidisciplinary practice, spanning sculpture, furniture, lighting, stage design, and public spaces. Alongside well-known works, the exhibition includes rarely seen pieces and previously unexhibited material, from sculptural works like Song of the Bird (1958) to models of unrealized concepts such as Play Mountain (1933), as well as collaborations with brands including Herman Miller and Knoll.
Noguchi’s work was deeply shaped by his bicultural background—born in Los Angeles to a Japanese father and American mother—and reflects a lifelong interest in the relationship between art, environment, and community. From his iconic Akari light sculptures to public projects like Atlanta’s Playscapes, his practice consistently blurred the lines between art and function. The exhibition also revisits key collaborations with figures such as Buckminster Fuller and Martha Graham, including rarely seen stage designs.
Organized thematically, the exhibition examines Noguchi’s ideas around reproducibility, architectural experimentation, and his forward-thinking vision for public space. Large-scale installations, archival material, and interactive elements highlight his commitment to merging utility with artistic expression.
Isamu Noguchi: “I am not a designer” will be on view in Atlanta from April 10 through August 2, 2026, before traveling to additional institutions across the U.S., including the Peabody Essex Museum and the Memorial Art Gallery.
