Isamu Noguchi Exhibition Opened at Lever House
The Manhattan display highlights the historic collaboration between sculptor Isamu Noguchi and architect Gordon Bunshaft.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Fine Art
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Lever House in Manhattan has unveiled a new exhibition dedicated to the work of Isamu Noguchi. The show highlights his creative partnership with architect Gordon Bunshaft, who designed the landmark 1952 building.
Why it matters
The exhibition offers a rare look at the artistic synergy between a renowned sculptor and a visionary architect. It provides context for their joint design efforts while celebrating the 75th anniversary of Noguchi's iconic Akari pendant lamps.
The exhibition features over a dozen sculptures, alongside two drawings and two model photographs. This display coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Akari pendant lamp series.
The players
Isamu Noguchi
He was a prominent Japanese-American artist and landscape architect known for his integration of sculpture and design.
Gordon Bunshaft
He was an influential American architect and partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill who designed the Lever House.
Noguchi Museum
Located in Long Island City, the museum preserves and displays the extensive collection and archives of Isamu Noguchi.
The details
Organized alongside the Noguchi Museum, the show features archival materials, including a scale model of a proposed ground-floor sculpture garden. Curators Jacob King, Hitomi Iwasaki, and Matthew Kirsch assembled the items to explore the long-standing collaboration between Noguchi and Bunshaft.
Timeline
Lever House was completed in 1952.
The exhibition opened on September 14, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This exhibition follows a pattern set by the 1952 completion of the Lever House by highlighting the integration of fine art into corporate architecture. It demonstrates how modern institutions are increasingly looking to historical creative partnerships to frame their cultural identity.
Visitors can access the display in the heart of Manhattan at Park Avenue and 54th Street. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to view archival models and sculptures that are rarely exhibited together in a public space.
The takeaway
This exhibit reminds viewers how public spaces can be transformed through the thoughtful placement of sculptural works. Attendees can look for the juxtaposition of Noguchi's organic forms against the rigid geometry of the mid-century building.
Further reading
Explore more local artistic showcases in our Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Architecturalrecord.
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