Press

Art Collaboration Kyoto will take place from November 14-16, 2025
at the Kyoto International Conference Center
　

(Kyoto, Japan, September 9, 2025) – Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK) announces further details for the 2025 edition, including:
　

・ACK Curates, a series of programs organized by ACK under this year’s theme set by ACK Fair Director Yukako Yamashita;
・Highlights for its Public Program in the main venue;
・Dynamic conversation topics and leading panel participants for ACK Talks;
・Enriching, participatory events hosted through the ACK Kids’ Programs, tethered to ACK’s mission of cultivating the future of the art world within Japan and beyond;
・Special Programs hosted in collaboration with partner companies;
・Special projects and exhibitions held around Kyoto City in the concurrent program What’s On;
・And the Bangkok Collaborate Kyoto (BCK) Fellowship, a new initiative presented in partnership with Bangkok Kunsthalle, driven by their shared commitment to experimentation and collaboration to support artists.

ACK puts culture forward and transcends the boundaries of the art fair by supporting and activating the local arts community. Its fifth edition will take place from November 14 to 16, 2025, with a VIP preview day on November 13, at the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto). During ACK, a number of special exhibitions will be concurrently on view at unique historical venues in Kyoto City, including a solo exhibition by Isabella Ducrot at Kouseiin Temple presented by Sadie Coles HQ, and a special project by Danh Vo and Rirkrit Tiravanija presented by neugerriemschneider at a private machiya; along with other late-night programs. A joint initiative by Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City, the newly launched “Kyoto Art Month” will feature programs held in collaboration with a range of art events across the city, such as CURATION⇄FAIR Kyoto and Art Rhizome KYOTO.
　

This year, ACK Curates will feature its Public Program, ACK Talks, and Kids’ Programs under the theme “2050—Gaze Toward the Future” set by Yukako Yamashita. The theme envisions a world shaped by collaborative intelligence, long-term cultural perspectives, and a commitment to embracing diversity, using Kyoto’s unique blend of tradition and innovation as a platform to imagine a resilient, equitable, and interconnected future.
　

Yukako Yamashita, ACK’s Fair Director, said, “Through this year’s theme ‘2050—Gaze Toward the Future,’ our program will explore how art can serve as a catalyst for resilience, innovation, and mutual understanding, sparking dialogues and creative exchanges that reimagine the cultural, social, and environmental landscapes of the decades ahead.”
　

Public Program
ACK’s Public Program will survey works selected by the guest curators Martin Germann and Kokoro Kimura. Responding to the ACK Curates’ theme, the exhibition titled “Symbiosis: Art and Common Grounds” features works that foster dialogues between diverse forms of knowledge, perspectives, and identities. Artists on display will include Toshikatsu Endo, Yein Lee, Kishio Suga, Stella Zhong and more. Curators will also join ACK Talks to share their concept.
　

Martin Germann and Kokoro Kimura, Guest Curators of the ACK Public Program, said,
“This ecologically grounded concept of ‘symbiosis’—an interdependent relationship between distinct organisms—offers a worldview rooted in coexistence and collaboration, standing in contrast to the multi-layered divisions of our time. How can dialogues among diverse forms of knowledge, perspectives, and identities relate to the languages and logics of contemporary art? How could these lead to shared forms of realism? In exploring these questions, we bring practices to the forefront that extend beyond the confines of the white cube to engage with the historical fabric of ICC Kyoto.”
　
For additional information on the Public Program, please visit
https://a-c-k.jp/en/ack-curates/public-program/.
　

ACK Talks
ACK will once again host ACK Talks, a diverse series of conversations featuring artists and industry leaders, exploring topics such as art and everyday life, rethinking culture and sustainability, and the relationship between humans and technology from diverse perspectives, taking art as a starting point in discussions that reflect on new values for the future. ACK Talks further reinforces the strength of Kyoto’s art and culture community through the inclusion of key local and global players in the art world. As of September 9, 2025, this year’s lineup features panelists from 14 cities across 11 countries; speakers include Olafur Eliasson (Artist), Marisa Chearavanont (Founder & President of Bangkok Kunsthalle), Toshiyuki Inoko (Founder of teamLab), Yuko Nagayama (Architect), Nawaf Bin Ayyaf (Senior Advisor for the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia), Meruro Washida (Director, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa / Associate Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts), Kyoko Mori (Managing Director, Mori Contemporary Art Foundation; Chairperson, Mori Art Museum) and more.

Date: Thursday, November 13 to Sunday, November 16
Venue: ICC Kyoto New Hall and online
Admission: Free for ACK ticket holders

For program details, please visit https://a-c-k.jp/en/talks/.
　

ACK Kids’ Programs
Committed to bettering the future of the art world, the fair will also host ACK Kids’ Programs at ICC Kyoto, dedicated to community enrichment and development. Programs include guided tour of the fair “Seeing”, as well as artist-led artmaking workshops “Making”. Bilingual childcare services are also available for visitors with children aged 3 months to 7 years old.

“Seeing” Guided Tours (ages 12-18) are instructed by Art Communication Research Center (ACC), Kyoto University of the Arts.

“Making” Workshop instructors:
November 14: Kohei Nawa (all ages)
November 15: Takahiro Yagi (Kaikado inc.) (ages 6–18 together with a guardian)
November 16: Byproducts Market (ages 8 to 13)

Official Partner: Rakuwakai Otowa Hospital
(Advance registration required. Free of charge. ACK tickets are required separately.)

For further details and advanced registration, please visit https://a-c-k.jp/en/for-kids/.
　

Special Programs
ACK is pleased to partner with MITSUBISHI ESTATE CO., LTD. as its lead partner for the fifth time in the 2025 edition of the fair. Special Programs will be held in collaboration with partner companies within ICC Kyoto, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn about multi-layered interpretations of art. This year, eight partner companies will present a diverse lineup of projects exploring approaches ranging from craft and manga to fashion and avant-garde art. SGC Co., Ltd., the pure gold craftmakers, will present an installation by contemporary artist Aya Ito; in collaboration with Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co. Ltd. and their Ladder Project, which aims to support the next generation of artists, a new work by Shota Yamauchi will be presented at Pilotis of the New Hall in ICC Kyoto. An exhibition revisiting the activities of the postwar avant-garde art group “Kyushu-ha (Kyushu School)”, which emerged in Fukuoka, will be held in collaboration with JINTEC Corporation. With Takashimaya Company, Limited, works by Nanae Mitobe and Ryu Jeyoon will be exhibited in conjunction with “ART WEEKS” held at Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. Joining as a partner for the first time this year, Shueisha Manga–Art Heritage will present a multifaceted exploration of manga expression through collaborative works by Keiichi Tanaami and Fujio Akatsuka. Also participating for the first time, AERO TOYOTA CORPORATION will introduce the traditional craftsmanship rooted in the Tango Peninsula in a VIP lounge setting, while proposing a new form of air travel with art as the destination. With main media partner Hearst, a custom-designed photo booth by Harper’s BAZAAR art will be introduced. Champagne Pommery, the official champagne partner of ACK, will also present works by the “Pommery Prize Kyoto 2025” finalists, an award for supporting young artists based in Kyoto, which was started on the occasion of ACK in 2023.

For program details, please visit https://a-c-k.jp/en/special-programs/.
　

What’s On
During the week of Art Collaboration Kyoto, a variety of art programs will be held across Kyoto, activating the historical city during this exciting cultural moment. In addition to those taking place at the main venue at ICC Kyoto, ACK introduces a selection of exhibitions and events throughout the city, including special presentations by participating galleries and partner companies at unique venues. Highlights include solo exhibition by Isabella Ducrot at Kouseiin Temple presented by Sadie Coles HQ, a special project by Danh Vo and Rirkrit Tiravanija presented by neugerriemschneider at a private machiya, an exhibition by Nobuaki Onishi and Yasuyoshi Botan at ACG Villa, Gabriel Orozco at Oscaar Mouligne in collaboration with kurimanzutto, and Bosco Sodi at MtK Contemporary Art in collaboration with SCAI the Bathhouse.

This year, ACK is also collaborating with the newly launched “Kyoto Art Month,” led by the Kyoto Prefectural and Municipal Governments, promoting a wide range of citywide art events from October to November. Initiatives such as CURATION⇄FAIR Kyoto and Art Rhizome KYOTO will further enrich the experience, supported by shuttle buses and ticket discounts to encourage exploration and deeper engagement with art in autumnal Kyoto.
　

Bangkok Collaborate Kyoto Fellowship (BCK Fellowship)

　
[Eligibility] Artists exhibited at the fifth edition of Art Collaboration Kyoto
[Selection Process] From November 13 to 14, a jury of four will visit each booth to review the works in person and conduct the evaluation. The results will be announced at the award ceremony scheduled on November 15, at the ACK Talks venue. Following the announcement, there will be a panel discussion featuring the jury and special guests.

[Jury]
Marisa Chearavanont (Founder & President of Bangkok Kunsthalle)
Stefano Rabolli Pansera (Director of Bangkok Kunsthalle)
Yutaka Sone (Artist)
Yukako Yamashita (Fair Director of ACK)

[Organizers] Art Collaboration Kyoto and Bangkok Kunsthalle
　

ACK Bonded Status
The fourth edition of Art Collaboration Kyoto will welcome 72 galleries from across the globe, including 36 exhibitors from outside Japan. From 2022 to 2024, Art Collaboration Kyoto obtained bonded status, allowing international exhibitors to be exempt from the 10% sales tax that otherwise would have been imposed pre-sale. The fair has reapplied for bonded status for its 2025 edition in November.

For the full list of participating galleries, please visit https://a-c-k.jp/en/exhibitors/.
　

Sponsors and Partners

Notes to Editors

About Art Collaboration Kyoto
Art Collaboration Kyoto is a culture-forward contemporary art fair held in Kyoto with collaboration at its core. One of the leading art fairs in Japan specializing in contemporary art, Art Collaboration Kyoto presents unique collaborations forged between Japanese and international galleries; government and private sectors; and fine arts and other cultural spheres in Kyoto. Hosted in the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto), the fair consists of two sections: “Gallery Collaborations”, which pairs a Japan-based gallery with its international peer in a shared booth; and “Kyoto Meetings”, which features presentations with distinct connections to Kyoto. In addition, ACK Curates will feature its Public Program, talks series, and family programs. Beyond the fair, a number of special projects and exhibitions will be concurrently on view in Kyoto.

Art Collaboration Kyoto is organized by the ACK Executive Committee, which includes the Kyoto Prefecture; Association for the Promotion of Contemporary Art in Japan; Contemporary Art Dealers Association Nippon; Culture Vision Japan Foundation Inc.; Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau. The fair is presented with support from The Cabinet Office, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2024, The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2024, and Japan Tourism Agency, Unique Experience in Japan 2024 in cooperation with JETRO Kyoto, Kyoto City, The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan Association of New Economy, and The Kyoto Shimbun.

The fair is located at the Kyoto International Conference Center (Takaragaike, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City) and others. For more information, please visit a-c-k.jp.
　

2025 Dates
Preview (by invitation only): Thursday, November 13, 2025
Public opening dates: Friday, November 14, 2025 – Sunday, November 16, 2025
　

Tickets
Tickets will be available online from Tuesday, September 9.
General admission is 3,000 JPY. Several discounts are available. For more details, visit https://a-c-k.jp/en/tickets/.
　

About Yukako Yamashita, ACK Fair Director
Yukako Yamashita is the Fair Director of Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK), a role she has held since the second edition of ACK in 2022. Prior to joining ACK, Yamashita managed her own gallery THE CLUB in Tokyo from 2017 to 2022. Yamashita also has experience at Sotheby’s Japan, where she oversaw the sales of contemporary art, and has an MA in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. Born in Tokyo in 1988 to a family that runs a tea ceremony utensils gallery business in Kyoto, Yamashita has been serving as the Kyoto City Growth Strategy Promotion Advisor since 2022.
　

About Martin Germann and Kokoro Kimura, ACK 2025’s Guest Curators of the Public Program
Martin Germann lives and works in Cologne. Until 2025, he served as adjunct curator for Mori Art Museum. He organized the 9th Biennial of Painting at Belgium’s Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens and served as a curatorial advisor for Aichi Triennale 2022. From 2012 to 2019, he led the artistic department of S.M.A.K. Ghent. Previously, he was a curator at the Kestner Gesellschaft Hannover (2008–2012) and worked for the 3rd and 4th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art. He published numerous exhibition catalogues and monographs, and his writing appeared in magazines such as 032c, Frieze, and Mousse. For Lili Dujourie: Folds in Time, he received an AICA award for Belgium’s best exhibition in 2016.
Kimura Kokoro is interested in the intersection of feminist and queer perspectives with decolonial discourses and explores the transformative potential of identity and relationality through exhibitions and workshops. She has also collaborated with institutions and artists across Asia, including SURVIVE! Garage (Yogyakarta) and HAPS (Kyoto). Kokoro completed an MA in Arts and Society at Utrecht University in the Netherlands and undertook a research internship at Cemeti: Institute for Art and Society in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.　

Selection Committee
Axel Dibie, Galerie Crèvecœur (Paris)
Yoshiaki Inoue, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery (Osaka)
Tomio Koyama, Tomio Koyama Gallery (Tokyo)
Yuichi Mori, Mori Yu Gallery (Kyoto)
Jeffrey Rosen, Misako & Rosen (Tokyo)
Shelly Wu, TKG+ (Taipei)
Yuko Yamamoto, Anomaly (Tokyo)

Spatial Design by Takashi Suo (Architect / SUO, Inc.)
This year, the fifth edition of ACK, the fair will aim to go beyond collaborations within booths in an experiment where, transcending the framework of booths, the entire venue is designed to facilitate relationships in a single cohesive exhibition. Our goal is to expand the increasingly standardized format of art fairs and create a platform for encountering artworks in completely new and unexpected ways.

Media Contacts
FITZ & CO | Georgina Zhao | gzhao@fitzandco.com
Art Collaboration Kyoto | Yoshiko Nawa and Rasa Tsuda | press@a-c-k.jp