"Samurai: The Way of the Warrior"

Helmet, first half of 17th century

Earlier this month, our autumn exhibition, "Samurai: The Way of the Warrior," came to a close. During its run, people responded to the show with great excitement and we were thrilled to see many new faces at the museum as well as repeat visitors. There were also many special events that accompanied the exhibition, including a demonstration of Japanese archery by Georgia Kyudo Renmei at our samurai-themed Family Day; an introduction to kendo, the modern Japanese martial art, presented by student organization Kendo at UGA; and a sake tasting hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta as a thank you to the donors who helped fund the exhibition.

"Samurai: The Way of the Warrior," organized by Contemporanea Progetti in collaboration with the Stibbert Museum in Florence, Italy, was the most comprehensive presentation of Japanese art of the samurai era in Georgia in nearly 30 years and showcased approximately 100 objects, including full suits of armor, helmets, swords, sword-hilts, saddles, lacquered calligraphy boxes, quivers and bows, incense trays, and foldable chairs. We thank our many corporate, foundation, and individual sponsors for their generous support, and a special thank you goes to Professors Hyangsoon Yi and Masaki Mori at UGA for their help in developing programming for this memorable exhibition highlighting the legendary warrior class of traditional Japan and the artistry and highly skilled craftsmanship of Japanese artisans.

"Samurai: The Way of the Warrior." Tag your photos on Instagram with #georgiamuseumofart. 

Click here for a list of exhibitions now on view at the Georgia Museum of Art.