Isamu Noguchi: I Am Not a Designer

Exhibition at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 10 April – 2 August 2026

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) embodied an interdisciplinary and socially engaged approach to the role of artist-designer, and his ceaseless quest for modes of expression reflected an exceptionally broad vision, even though he stated in a 1949 interview: ‘I am not a designer. ’ Yet, in the forty years following this denial, he produced some of the most innovative creations of the 20th century, notably in the fields of architecture, furniture, lighting, theatre sets, gardens, playgrounds and public squares.

This exhibition catalogue traces Noguchi’s sixty-year career. It brings together twenty in-depth essays and short vignettes written by an international panel of researchers and curators, addressing all aspects of his design practice. A rich and varied selection of archival and contemporary images illustrates the works in the exhibition whilst highlighting and exploring the Japanese artist’s exceptional career.