Lisa Larson Memorial Exhibition at Marui Imai in Sapporo from December 4; Tracing the Life of the Swedish Ceramicist

“Lisa Larson Memorial Exhibition: Artist, Designer, Source of Inspiration,” a memorial exhibition for the Swedish ceramicist and designer Lisa Larson (1931–2024), will be held from Friday, December 4, 2026 to Monday, January 4, 2027 at the 9F Event Hall of the Odori Building, Marui Imai Sapporo Main Store (Chuo-ku, Sapporo). Sapporo Television Broadcasting (STV) announced it on October 15. The exhibition traces her lifelong creative activity from three perspectives: “artist,” “designer” and “source of inspiration.” Advance tickets are on sale until Thursday, December 3.

What can visitors see? Her work traced from three perspectives

According to the exhibition’s official website, the “artist” section introduces unique pieces (one-of-a-kind works) made for noncommercial purposes and wall works for public facilities. The “designer” section covers her work as a product designer who pursued mass production of products everyone could enjoy, made mainly by the Gustavsberg factory and Keramikstudion. The “source of inspiration” section takes up works in which companies and craftspeople gave form to Larson’s influence. The exhibition also looks at three motifs that recur in her work: “children,” “birds” and “imaginary animals.”

The works shown in images in STV’s press materials are “Fantasy Tree (unique piece)” (1969), “Lion” from the Africa series (1964), the cats “Tripp” and “Trapp” from the Tripp Trapp Trull series (both 1968), “Round Family” (1959–60) and “Person and Dog (unique piece)” (1990s), all in the collection of Lisa Larson.

The Sapporo venue following the Tokyo exhibition, and the number of works

According to the exhibition’s official website, the exhibition was held in Tokyo at Event Square on the 8th floor of Matsuya Ginza from Friday, September 25 to October 12, 2026. Sapporo is the next venue, and both are planned by Art Impression and Matsuya.

Regarding the number of works, the headline of STV’s press materials says “about 90 precious works arriving in Japan for the first time.” The exhibition’s official website, on the other hand, describes the exhibition as “about 250 works, including some shown in Japan for the first time,” without giving numbers for each venue. The body of the press materials explains that the display includes works never before shown in Japan.

Who was Lisa Larson?

Lisa Larson was born in 1931 in the Småland region of southern Sweden. After studying at the Slöjdföreningens skola in Gothenburg (now HDK – Academy of Art and Design, University of Gothenburg), she was scouted by the Gustavsberg factory, which the press materials describe as Sweden’s largest ceramics manufacturer, and worked under Stig Lindberg. During more than 20 years there, she released animal and human figures, including “Lion.”

In 1980 she went independent and worked with companies in Sweden and abroad as a freelancer. In 1992 she founded Keramikstudion with former colleagues and also devoted herself to making unique pieces. In her later years, she reportedly had close ties with Japan. She died in March 2024 at the age of 92.

Tickets and prices

Advance tickets (tax included) are 1,600 yen for adults and university students, 1,100 yen for high school students, 800 yen for junior high school students and 500 yen for elementary school students. They are sold through e+ and Lawson Ticket (L-code: 12451) until 23:59 on Thursday, December 3. From December 4, same-day tickets are sold at the venue for 1,800 yen for adults and university students, 1,300 yen for high school students, 1,000 yen for junior high school students and 700 yen for elementary school students. Preschool children are free. Elementary school children and younger must enter with a guardian aged 18 or over who holds a ticket.

Opening hours are 10:30–19:30, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Hours are until 17:00 on Thursday, December 31 and 10:00–18:00 on Saturday, January 2, 2027, and the venue closes at 17:00 on the final day, January 4 (last entry 16:30). It is closed on Friday, January 1 (national holiday).

On Swedish design, “Swedish Textiles” is also on view at the Setagaya Art Museum in Tokyo until November 15. Sapporo’s winter light event is covered in our article on the Sapporo White Illumination 2026.

Overview

Name: Lisa Larson Memorial Exhibition: Artist, Designer, Source of Inspiration
Dates: Friday, December 4, 2026 – Monday, January 4, 2027
Hours: 10:30–19:30 (until 17:00 on December 31, 10:00–18:00 on January 2, and until 17:00 on the final day; last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: January 1
Venue: 9F Event Hall, Odori Building, Marui Imai Sapporo Main Store
Address: Minami 1-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Admission: Same day: adults and university students 1,800 yen, high school students 1,300 yen, junior high school students 1,000 yen, elementary school students 700 yen / Advance: adults and university students 1,600 yen, high school students 1,100 yen, junior high school students 800 yen, elementary school students 500 yen (tax included); preschool children free
Organizers: STV Sapporo Television Broadcasting, Marui Imai Sapporo Main Store
Special cooperation: Lisa Larson Design AB, STV Radio
Support: Embassy of Sweden
Cooperation: All Nippon Airways
Planning: Art Impression, Matsuya
Planning cooperation: Tonkachi
Inquiries: Marui Imai Sapporo Main Store, 011-205-1151
Official website: https://www.lisalarson-ex.com/
*Information as of October 20, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Fantasy Tree (unique piece), 1969, collection of Lisa Larson © Lisa Larson Photo: Sanna Argus Tirén (from a press release by Sapporo Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press materials from Sapporo Television Broadcasting (October 15, 2026) and information on the exhibition’s official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team