discover six rare akari lamps by isamu noguchi

rare pieces to explore or own

While the works of Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi spanned a diverse range of mediums, he is perhaps best known for his Akari lamps, which are now considered iconic examples of mid-century modern design. Isamu Noguchi’s lamps embody his philosophy that good design should be both beautiful and function, and that art and design should be accessible to everyone.

In keeping with that philosophy, for the first time, six rare versions of the Akari lamps will be presented in New York at the Noguchi Museum Shop. From May 17th — 28th, in time for NYCxDESIGN, the museum will exhibit ‘Early Patterns: Reintroducing Akari of the 1950s,’ and allow visitors to explore or own a piece of mid-century modern design history, and to experience firsthand the beauty and warmth of Noguchi’s iconic paper lamps. 

Louise Dahl Wolfe, Portrait d’Isamu Noguchi, 1955 | image © Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona Foundation / The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

find akari at the noguchi museum

These early designs of Akari were first unveiled in exhibits held at the Museum of Modern Art in Kamakura in 1952 and at the Chuo Koron Gallery in Tokyo in 1954. Subsequently, these specific models were only obtainable in small quantities in Japan and France for many years, until now when the Noguchi Museum decided to exhibit the complete collection of Noguchi’s iconic light sculptures that are still in production.

Ozeki & Co, the manufacturer responsible for producing Noguchi’s fixtures since their inception, has crafted each Akari lamp sold at the Noguchi Museum Shop. The museum itself had been designed and established by the artist in 1985, and has showcased a curation of his sculptural works within its quiet, garden oasis nestled among the streets of Long Island City, New York.

Noguchi first began creating his Akari lamps in 1951, inspired by traditional Japanese paper lanterns. The lamps are made by hand, using a combination of bamboo ribbing and washi paper created from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. Each lamp is carefully crafted to achieve a unique shape and texture, and the result is a series of glowing, organic forms that seem to radiate warmth and light.

image courtesy The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

One of the elements that makes the Akari lamps so unique is their simplicity. They are minimalist in design, with no unnecessary adornment or decoration. This minimalism allows the beauty of the materials and the shape of the lamps to take center stage. It’s this simplicity that has made them so timeless, and it’s why they continue to be popular today, over half a century after they were first created.

While the Akari lamps are perhaps Noguchi’s most famous work, they are by no means his only contribution to mid-century design. He also created a number of sculptural works, including the ‘Red Cube,’ a public artwork designed and installed in 1968 in New York’s Financial District. Of course he designed furniture, including his three-legged Rudder Table, produced today by Herman Miller and easily found for those hoping to style their interiors through Noguchi’s vision.

For those in France this summer, an extensive retrospective titled Isamu Noguchi: Sculpting the World is currently on view in the northern city of Villeneuve-d’Ascq at Musée LaM and will run until July 2nd (see designboom’s coverage here).

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Isamu Noguchi, Akari 3AB, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 153711 | image by Kevin Noble c/o The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York / ARS

Isamu Noguchi, Akari 3AR, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 153712 | image by Kevin Noble c/o The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York / ARS

Isamu Noguchi, Akari 3AV, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 153713 | image by Kevin Noble c/o The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York / ARS

Isamu Noguchi, Akari 5A, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 153715 | image by Kevin Noble c/o The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York / ARS

Isamu Noguchi, Akari 5AD, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 153714 | image by Kevin Noble c/o The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York / ARS

Isamu Noguchi, Akari 9AY, 1954. The Noguchi Museum Archives, 153717 | image by Kevin Noble c/o The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, New York / ARS