Artist Monograph

On Kawara, Japanese

On Kawara is represented by 83 works in MoMA's permanent collection, classified as japanese, with dated works spanning 1967–2017.

Japanese, 1933–2014

Authority records:
Wikidata
· Getty ULAN

Medium & Technique Profile

Primary media across the MoMA holdings

Medium Works at MoMA Share
Drawing 57 68.7%
Other Media 15 18.1%
Acrylic Painting 8 9.6%
Lithography 2 2.4%
Sculpture 1 1.2%

Technique range

On Kawara’s MoMA holdings concentrate in Drawing, with secondary engagement in Other Media, Acrylic Painting, Lithography, Sculpture.

Collection Distribution: MoMA & The Met

Works held at MoMA

MoMA holds a substantial body of 83 works produced between 1967 and 2017 attributed to On Kawara, representing verified accession records curated by the museum’s Department of Painting and Sculpture and sister departments.

Production timeline

Dated works in these two collections span 50 years, from 1967 to 2017.

Cultural Context & Contemporaries

National context

On Kawara is catalogued under Japanese nationality. See the full Japanese artists hub.

Contemporaries among Japanese artists

  1. 164
    Yutaka Matsuzawa
    works at MoMA
  2. 148
    Yoshitomo Nara
    works at MoMA
  3. 109
    Mieko Shiomi
    works at MoMA
  4. 104
    Ikeda Masuo (池田満寿夫)
    works at MoMA
  5. 100
    Tadanori Yokoo
    works at MoMA

Lifespan & active period

Born 1933. No confirmed date of death in the MoMA Artists index.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many works by On Kawara are in MoMA?

MoMA's catalogue lists 83 works attributed to On Kawara.

What medium did On Kawara primarily work in?

Based on MoMA's holdings, On Kawara's most represented medium is Drawing.

What nationality is On Kawara?

On Kawara is catalogued as Japanese in MoMA's Artists index.

When were On Kawara's works created?

Dated works in MoMA + Met for On Kawara span 1967 to 2017.