Stenciled Elegance: Ise Katagami and the Art of Textile Design | Asia Society

Stenciled Elegance: Ise Katagami and the Art of Textile Design

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Blossoms, birds, waves, and autumn leaves — these are just a few of the enchanting patterns found on Japanese kimono. Stenciled Elegance: Ise Katagami and the Art of Textile Design highlights the essential role of Ise Katagami, the thousand-year art form of using intricate paper stencils to adorn kimono with beautiful designs. This traditional craft, named after the Ise region — renowned for its artists, historical landmarks, and being the birthplace of Japanese shrines — is vital to the art of textile dyeing.

Ise Katagami are made by skilled artisans who slice, cut, and incise extraordinarily fine patterns into paper by hand, with some of the more complicated patterns requiring up to one month to complete. After years of apprenticeship, these artisans develop meticulous and skillful hands that master different cutting techniques, which will be introduced in this exhibition through the themes of flora, water, and geometric patterns.  Featuring 25 Ise Katagami stencils generously loaned by the Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh Foundation, this exhibition at Asia Society Texas offers audiences a chance to appreciate an important facet of Japanese cultural heritage. The stencils displayed here, made by anonymous makers across generations of history, are intended to highlight the sophistication and precision of traditional Japanese crafts. Their mesmerizing, refined patterns deserve recognition as standalone works of art.

Admission and Hours

Admission to Stenciled Elegance: Ise Katagami and the Art of Textile Design is included with the purchase of any admission:

Asia Society Members Receive Free Admission All Year!

Asia Society Texas members enjoy free exhibition admission, discounts for programs and summer camps, and much more!

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See It All!

$15
$8 Students with I.D.
Free for Ages 6 and Under and for AST Members

Explore Asia Exhibition

$8
Free for Ages 6 and Under and for AST Members

Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery

$8
Free for Ages 6 and Under, for Students with I.D., and for AST Members

Discounts

Seniors, military personnel, and guests with disabilities receive a 20% discount on onsite admission purchases.

Public Hours

Wednesday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday – 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Thursday exhibition admission
Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Photography

Photography without flash is permitted.

Related Programs and Tours

Opening Reception
Thursday, January 23, 2025
6–8 p.m.

Credits

This exhibition is organized by Rebecca Becerra and Nina Shimaguchi, with support from the Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh Foundation. 

Special thanks to the Consulate-General of Japan in Houston, Japan-America Society of Houston, and JapanCraft21 for their help organizing and promoting Stenciled Elegance. 

Stenciled Elegance is sponsored by the Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh Foundation. Exhibitions and their related programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher. Major support comes from The Brown Foundation, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding also provided by The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, National Endowment for the Arts, and Texas Commission on the Arts. Free Thursday exhibition admission presented by The Nyquist Family. Additional support is provided by The Clayton Fund, Leigh and Reginald Smith, Ann Wales, the Wortham Foundation, and through contributions from the Exhibitions Patron Circle, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional visual art to Asia Society Texas.

Presenting Sponsors

Nancy C. Allen
Leslie and Brad Bucher
Chinhui Juhn and Edward Allen

Program Sponsors

Japan Series Sponsor