75 Years of Akari

Isamu Noguchi first began developing his iconic Akari light sculptures in 1951, following a visit to Gifu, Japan. Nearly 75 years later, Noguchi’s luminous sculptures continue to inspire artists and designers around the world. As we celebrate this anniversary milestone in 2026, The Noguchi Museum is working on digital projects to highlight the extraordinary history of Akari and their enduring significance in the world of design and interiors. 

Share Your Akari Photos

The Noguchi Museum is seeking high-resolution images of creative and inspiring ways to display Akari light sculptures for our digital channels. Send us photos of how you style your Akari to be featured on our website with credit. 

Submission Details
Email your images, along with photographer / creator credits, to akariphotos@noguchi.org. 

Terms of Use
By consenting to share your image with The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, you agree to the following conditions:

• You give The Noguchi Museum permission to publish agreed upon images on shop.noguchi.org and noguchi.org and for digital communications on social media and in email newsletters. This agreement grants a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence.

• The Noguchi Museum will not claim ownership rights to your images and shall only be granted the right to use these photos on shop.noguchi.org, noguchi.org, social media, and in email newsletters.

• The Noguchi Museum may crop or resize images as needed.

• By submitting an image, you represent and warrant to The Noguchi Museum that your content does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party, including but not limited to copyrights and trademark rights. 

• The Noguchi Museum will credit the creator, provided by you, of the image in connection with the Museum’s use of the images.

Above: Isamu Noguchi photographing Akari on display at Chuo Koron Gallery, Tokyo, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 03607. ©INFGM / ARS