Nobu Hotel London Portman Square Welcomes Japanese Artist Asako Iwamizu For Solo Exhibition During London Craft Week
- Epicurean Life
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
This spring, Nobu Hotel London Portman Square is hosting Japanese artist Asako Iwamizu for a month-long solo exhibition in the hotel’s coveted White Box gallery. As a Fabric Jockey, Asako Iwamizu is known for her "Kimekomi Art," which combines traditional kimekomi techniques with fabric scraps and remnants to create compelling artwork that connects fabrics and their cultures worldwide.
This solo exhibition will showcase new Kimekomi works using Japanese and British fabrics, allowing visitors to learn about the history and context of these materials and experience cross-cultural exchange through interactive workshops. Kimekomi Art has previously collaborated with fabric manufacturers both in Japan and abroad to promote the charm of fabric. Now, the goal is to foster cross-cultural exchanges by uniting people through fabrics with diverse cultural backgrounds. Hosting the exhibition in the UK—a global fashion capital that balances tradition and innovation—will provide an international dialogue centered around fabric.
The exhibition itself will also be celebrated during London Craft Week (12–18 May 2025), a popular annual festival celebrating exceptional craftsmanship and creativity from around the world. Held each May across London, the event brings together over 1,000 established and emerging makers, designers, brands, and galleries, offering a curated selection based on substance and inspiration rather than price or fame. The festival features a diverse programme of exhibitions, workshops, and events that span making, design, fashion, art, luxury, food, culture, and shopping. Asako’s exhibition aims to create new connections among Japanese and British fabric manufacturers, designers, and industry professionals. London, with its rich textile heritage and role as a global fashion hub, is an inspiring location for Kimekomi Art. The local exhibition will not only offer fresh inspiration but also expand the potential for innovative expressions by incorporating unique local fabrics.
Additionally, showcasing in the UK, the third-largest art market globally (17% market share in 2023), will increase the project’s visibility among a broader audience of art collectors. Prior to the exhibition, Asako will engage with local fabric producers and designers, gathering scraps and remnants to create new works.
As an example, Asako plans to collaborate with tailors from London’s famous Savile Row, integrating regional elements into the creative process. This project serves as a bridge between the international art and fabric industries by connecting Japanese and British fabric traditions. For London audiences, it presents a unique opportunity to experience Japanese fabrics and promotes environmental awareness through workshops on the 17th and 18th of May.
The exhibition is open to the public from 1st May until 25th May 2025.
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