Sound of Water

Water has long shaped life in Japan. As an island nation surrounded by the sea and nourished by abundant rainfall, Japan depends on water for its fertile landscapes and rich food sources. In contemporary Japanese art, water continues to be a powerful theme. Sound of Water: Feminine Expressions of Fluidity features paintings, prints, and sculptures by six Japanese women artists: Emiko Aida, Miya Ando, Yumiko Glover, Mineko Grimmer, Yuko Kimura, and Ayomi Yoshida. Their works explore water’s many moods and manifestations —serene and soft, yet also powerful and unpredictable—inviting us to consider our own relationship with this essential element as we face climatic extremes throughout the world. The exhibition celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Japanese Garden at Descanso Gardens and is curated by Japanese art historian Meher McArthur. The exhibition is open at the Sturt Haaga Gallery from June 20, 2026–January 3, 20276, 10am–4pm daily. View the catalog Entry to the Sturt Haaga Gallery is included in the price of admission or membership. Artwork: Yumiko Glover, Traces of Memory, 2023 (detail). Courtesy of the artist.

Special Programs Thursday, August 27, 10–11:30am — Japanese Screen Art Workshop

Sound of Water: Feminine Expressions of Fluidity and its programs are generously funded, in part, by Perenchio Foundation, Pasadena Art Alliance, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture, and an endowment from Heather Sturt Haaga and Paul G. Haaga, Jr. The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, is a Community Partner for this exhibition.