Yoshitomo Nara is changing scenes: after 14 years with Pace, the Japanese musician is joining David Zwirner.

Yoshitomo Nara is changing scenes: after 14 years with Pace, the Japanese musician is joining David Zwirner.

Nicolas Sarazin | Nov 4, 2025 3 minutes read 1 comment
 

Yoshitomo Nara, the rebellious enfant terrible of Japanese pop art, is leaving Pace Gallery after fourteen years to join David Zwirner. Poised between innocence and provocation, the artist continues to captivate the art world, and this new chapter could well redefine his international trajectory. Discover why this movement is generating so much buzz and what it means for collectors and art lovers.


Key points

  • After 14 years with Pace Gallery, Nara is now represented by David Zwirner.

  • Her works, famous for their large-eyed children and their ambivalence between fragility and rebellion, continue to appeal to the international market.

  • This transition opens up new perspectives for its exhibitions and production on a global scale.

  • Pace remains involved, ensuring continuity while allowing the artist to explore new horizons.


Yoshitomo Nara, the rebellious enfant terrible of contemporary Japanese pop art, is making headlines. After fourteen years under the wing of Pace Gallery, the artist's work is now represented by the powerful David Zwirner Gallery. This change marks a new stage in an already international career, one that continues to surprise with its vitality and relevance.

A work poised between innocence and subversion

Since his early work in Hirosaki and later Düsseldorf, Nara has established a universe where the innocence of children and the gentleness of animals coexist with a breath of rebellion and melancholy. His characters, often with eyes too large for their faces, capture a subtle tension between fragility and defiance. This ability to blend apparent naivety with emotional depth has made him a major figure in the international contemporary art market, as well as a singular voice in the visual narrative of our time.

A strategic handover

Nara's long-standing collaboration with Pace Gallery has allowed him to solidify his place in the art world through landmark exhibitions and international visibility. Now, his decision to join David Zwirner appears to be a logical step towards global growth. This new chapter does not signify abandonment, but rather expansion: Pace will continue to collaborate with the artist, while Zwirner opens new avenues for his future projects, exhibitions, and productions on an international scale.

Towards new horizons

This change feels like an invitation to experience the artist from a new perspective. David Zwirner, known for his support of top-tier contemporary artists, will offer Nara a renewed platform and, undoubtedly, more ambitious exhibition formats. For collectors and enthusiasts, it's an opportunity to rediscover a familiar world in a new light. With this transition, Nara confirms that he is never static, always in motion, oscillating between what seems familiar and what surprises us.

FAQ

Why the change of gallery now?
After more than a decade with Pace, Nara wanted to broaden its international reach and experiment with new exhibition formats. David Zwirner offers it a wider global platform and renewed creative flexibility.

What does this mean for collectors?
Collectors can expect increased visibility for the artist and new opportunities to acquire his works. Continuity with Pace also ensures that established relationships remain relevant.

Will the works change style?
Nara's style, a blend of apparent naivety and emotional depth, will remain true to her world. However, new exhibitions and international collaborations could reveal more ambitious or unprecedented projects.

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