Art Gallery Cafe "WHAT CAFE" to Hold Exhibition "U40: Emerging Directors & Curators Under40" Starting July 4, 2026

WHAT CAFE, an art gallery cafe operated by Warehouse TERRADA Co., Ltd. (CEO: Kohei Terada, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo), will hold "WHAT CAFE EXHIBITION vol.46: U40: Emerging Directors & Curators Under40" from Saturday, July 4, 2026, to Monday, July 20, 2026 (national holiday).

This exhibition is a group show where gallery directors and curators under 40, active in the art industry, gather at WHAT CAFE to introduce artists and their works selected from their respective viewpoints. A total of 14 directors and curators will each select one artist, composing the exhibition space. Visitors can enjoy a variety of works selected with unique sensibilities against the backdrop of contemporary themes such as digital natives, globalization, diversity, and environmental issues.

This project is the second installment following "WHAT CAFE EXHIBITION vol.39: Emerging Directors & Curators U40," held in December 2024. Since its opening in 2020, WHAT CAFE has created opportunities for young artists to showcase and sell their works. By providing a platform for collaboration among directors, curators, and artists of the next generation, we aim to further revitalize the art industry.

【Exhibition Overview】

Title: WHAT CAFE EXHIBITION vol.46: U40: Emerging Directors & Curators Under40

Dates: Saturday, July 4, 2026 – Monday, July 20, 2026 (national holiday)

Hours: 11:00 – 18:00 (Last day until 17:00)

Venue: WHAT CAFE (2-1-11 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002)

Admission: Free

Official Website: https://cafe.warehouseofart.org/exhibition/what-cafe-exhibition-vol-46-edcu40

*The venue may be closed due to exhibition changes or rental events during the exhibition period. Please check the official website for detailed opening hours.

Director/Curator × Artist (Titles omitted, order not sequential)

・Ginga Ogishima (FOAM CONTEMPORARY) × Hayato Isozaki

・Mariko Hosoki (YUGEN Gallery) × Megumi Imai

・Jingwen Li (Curator) × Ziyu He

・Kitanishi (Eunoia) × Akika Kano

・Kohei Yamada (AWASE gallery) × Dahye Kim

・Junpei Kuroda (keshik.jp) × KUWABARA

・Nanami Sudo (Producer) × Kentaro Shimoyama

・Kosuke Hayashi (GALLERY HAYASHI + ART BRIDGE) × Yukiko Shinkai

・Aoi Tanaka (GALLERY SCENA.) × Tsukika Takato

・Hisayoshi Komoda (Marco Gallery) × Kotaro Tsuda, Taihei Suzuki

・Saori Shibata (SHIBATA ART LLC) × Tobias Roth-Saul

・Yuki Kairida (Director) × Masato Nakano

・Ryo Takahashi (Pause One) × HAYATO MACHIDA

・Yuko Asyoku (WHAT CAFE) × Yo Matsuura

【Event Information】

A talk event related to this exhibition will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2026. It will deepen your understanding of contemporary art and enhance your enjoyment of the exhibition.

Title: EDC Talk Event

Date & Time: Saturday, July 4, 2026, 14:00 – 16:00

Participation Fee: Free (No prior registration required)

Venue: WHAT CAFE (2-1-11 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002)

Official Website: https://cafe.warehouseofart.org/event/edc_talkevent_0704

14:00 – 15:00 "How to Support Young Artists and Contemporary Collectors"

Featuring Shinya Obata, who researches design management and curation at Kyoto University Graduate School of Management, this session will introduce new ways to enjoy art in the current era through examples of supporting contemporary collectors and young artists.

Speakers: Shinya Obata (Associate Professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Management), Yuko Asyoku (WHAT CAFE)

Cooperation: Kyoto University Graduate School of Management, Endowed Chair for Curation Theory, Practice, and Management

15:00 – 16:00 "Directors' & Curators' Crosstalk"

Directors and curators participating in this exhibition will introduce highlights of the exhibition and the appeal of the artists, while also discussing the current state of the domestic and international art scene.

Speakers: Saori Shibata (SHIBATA ART LLC), Nanami Sudo (Producer), Kohei Yamada (AWASE gallery)

Facilitator: Yuko Asyoku (WHAT CAFE)

【About WHAT CAFE】 https://cafe.warehouseofart.org

WHAT CAFE is a facility that exhibits and sells contemporary art by artists who will lead the future of the Japanese art industry. It features a spacious and bright area of 800 square meters. By changing all the exhibited works for each exhibition period, it creates opportunities for numerous artists to showcase and sell their works. It offers visitors a place to constantly encounter new art. Furthermore, it hosts workshops, events, and gatherings for art fans, all linked to the exhibition content, providing a space to enjoy and experience art with all five senses. The cafe space also allows visitors to enjoy meals and drinks surrounded by art.

【About Warehouse TERRADA】

Company Name: Warehouse TERRADA Co., Ltd.

Representative: Kohei Terada, President and CEO

Location: 2-6-10 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002

Established: October 1950

URL: https://www.terrada.co.jp

Tennoz Art Portal Site: https://warehouseofart.org

【Inquiries Regarding Exhibited Works and WHAT CAFE】

Warehouse TERRADA WHAT CAFE Team E-MAIL: [email protected]