New York is in the grip of Nara fever. Yoshitomo Nara, the Japanese artist whose wide-eyed, big-headed girls have become icons of contemporary art, has made a long-awaited return to the city with a two-venue takeover at David Zwirner. The show brings together more than 50 new artworks, and on opening night a line of hundreds stretched through Chelsea, a reminder of just how much this artist means to his audience.
The self-titled exhibition runs until December 12 and is Nara's first major presentation with David Zwirner, following his move to the gallery and his departure from Pace last year. It unfolds across the gallery's spaces on 19th and 20th Streets, offering drawings, paintings and sculptures, along with a handful of works from the 1980s and 1990s chosen personally by Nara himself.
This is not a full retrospective. That moment is still to come, with a major retrospective of Nara's work planned at SFMOMA in 2027. Still, the New York show gives a revealing glimpse of the artist's journey: how his style has evolved, which early ideas continue to shape him, and where he may be heading next.
On 20th Street, where the paintings and drawings are housed, a gathering of Nara's signature big-headed girls, both familiar and new, takes over the room. Some look on with curiosity, others appear ready for a fight, and none of them are merely sweet. Despite their youthful appearance, these figures are far from child's play. Through politically conscious, anti-war themes and a punk attitude, they challenge conventional ideas of girlhood, innocence and strength.
Nara's presence in New York proves that his work continues to move forward. For anyone in the city before December 12, this is one to see.