Cleveland Museum of Art Opened Ten Kings Exhibition
The exhibit reunites ten rare hanging scrolls for the first time since the 1960s.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Fine Art
Live Poll
Should historical artifacts be moved to international museums to allow for their complete reunification?
The Cleveland Museum of Art has opened the exhibition Ten Kings of Hell: The Afterlife in Medieval Korea. This showcase reunites 10 historical hanging scrolls for the first time in over 50 years.
Why it matters
The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to view these artifacts collectively, as the Third King of Hell scroll was only recently rediscovered at the Museum of Modern Art in Gunma, Japan.
The exhibition features more than 100 works, including the 10 reunited hanging scrolls dating from the Goryeo dynasty period of 918-1392.
The players
Cleveland Museum of Art
This major institution is a globally recognized museum that serves as the primary host and organizer of this international exhibition.
National Museum of Korea
This organization serves as the primary national cultural institution of Korea and is the lead partner for this curatorial project.
Museum of Modern Art, Gunma
This Japanese institution is the facility where the previously missing Third King of Hell scroll was rediscovered.
The details
Organized in partnership with the National Museum of Korea, the display features items from collections across Korea, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The exhibit unfolds across three distinct sections to illustrate the soul's passage from death to Buddhist paradise.
Timeline
The scrolls were last united during the 1960s.
The exhibition opened on October 11, 2026.
The museum will close the exhibition for a rotation of works on December 1, 2026.
The exhibition is scheduled to close on January 3, 2027.
Industry Dynamics
This exhibition follows the National Museum of Korea's international collection outreach program. This show highlights a larger industry trend toward global artifact reunification and institutional partnerships.
Visitors can view the collection in Cleveland through early January, though they should note the brief closure on December 1, 2026. This limited engagement offers a unique chance to see a complete set of scrolls that have been separated for decades.
The takeaway
The exhibition highlights the importance of international collaboration in restoring lost cultural histories. Attendees should plan their visit around the December rotation to ensure they see the full collection.
What happens next
The exhibition will be closed for a scheduled rotation of works on December 1, 2026, before final closing on January 3, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more exhibits and cultural events on the Fine Art section page.
Live Poll
Should historical artifacts be moved to international museums to allow for their complete reunification?
