The exhibition will be accompanied by public programs, artist engagement, and opportunities for museum collection building, with the wider initiative continuing across North America through 2032. Opening at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in February 2027, KOGEI USA’s next major initiative will present approximately 50 works of Japanese metalwork and lacquerware by leading artists, including Living National Treasures.

Mountains, Seas, and the Mallet: Living National Treasure Ōsumi Yukie and the Way of Metal Museum Salon Series Asia Society New York Wednesday December 2, 2026 6:30pm - 8:00pm This December, in collaboration with KOGEI USA, Asia Society presents a conversation with Ōsumi Yukie, the first female metalcraft artist to be designated a Japanese Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Properties, better known as a Living National Treasure.

Moderated by Chinese gold-and-silver specialist Boxi Liu, this event offers a rare glimpse into the tactile world of traditional Japanese metalcraft.

Throughout her career, Ōsumi has drawn inspiration from the natural world: ocean waves, mountain winds, and the floating clouds of her youth. Rejecting the notion of conquering her medium, she instead describes a process of "dialogue with the material," allowing the silver to guide her mallet. Her rhythmic hammering transforms solid metal into flowing lines, bringing centuries-old craftsmanship into contemporary practice.

In this conversation, Ōsumi and Liu will unveil the rigorous techniques behind her work, particularly tankin (hammering) and her signature nunome zōgan (textile imprint inlay), and explore how she translates the enchanting landscape into the fluid forms of her vessels.