Arts of Asia Fall 2026 Unknown Makers, Lasting Beauty: Rethinking Fine Art Across Asia

Of the thousands of objects in the museum’s collection, most were created by unknown makers. Many works are unsigned, and others have lost attribution over time. For generations, such pieces were categorized as “craft” or “decorative art,” often excluded from the status granted to “fine art.” In the early twentieth century, Japanese thinker Sōetsu Yanagi challenged this hierarchy, drawing attention to the quiet beauty of functional, everyday objects. His ideas encourage us to consider anonymous makers with the same care and seriousness we reserve for named artists, and to recognize that insight and artistry are not limited to signed masterpieces. This lecture series looks across Asia at both celebrated works and once-overlooked objects, exploring how ideas of art, value, and “fine art” have evolved — and how unknown makers created works of enduring beauty and significance. Please see the schedule of speakers and topics below for any exceptions to the date or place.