Shohei Ono and Alvar Aalto

Rurbanism Exhibition 2026

May 9 (Sat) – May 10 (Sun), 2026

Rurbanism, a concept store exploring the space between urban and rural life, is pleased to present “Rurbanism Exhibition: Shohei Ono and Alvar Aalto”, a two-day exhibition and sale featuring ceramic works by contemporary artist Shohei Ono alongside vintage furniture by Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto.

The exhibition will take place at NEW in Omotesando.

Conceived as an exploration of the “in-between” — between city and nature, daily life and stillness — the exhibition centers on Ono’s Shirogane series, accompanied by a new body of work created specifically for this occasion. The presentation includes vases, planters, incense holders, and large-scale planter covers, offering a diverse range of ceramic expressions.

Rather than pursuing uniform beauty, the Shirogane series embraces irregularity — viscous textures, subtle distortions, and organic fluctuations — all of which are inscribed into the surface through the firing process, revealing landscapes that can only emerge through the act of making.

In dialogue with these works, a selection of rare vintage furniture by Alvar Aalto — including armchairs, stools, and tables — will be presented. These one-of-a-kind pieces, representative of 20th-century Nordic modernism, embody organic forms and a human-centered scale.

Aalto’s furniture quietly resonates with the material presence and sensibility of Ono’s ceramics, creating a dialogue that transcends time and geography.

Through this encounter between two distinct yet harmonious practices, the exhibition invites visitors to experience Rurbanism’s vision of a space where urban and natural, craft and living coexist — in quiet balance.

Rurbanism Exhibition: Shohei Ono and Alvar Aalto

Dates: May 9 (Sat) – May 10 (Sun), 2026

Venue: NEW

Address: B1F, 5-9-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Hours: 12:00 – 19:00

Supported by Utsuwa Shoken KAMAKURA

Junya Handa / AND WHAT NOT Design