About the Kenji Yanobe Foundation
― A new base connecting art to the future ―
The Kenji Yanobe Foundation is established to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations the artworks and creative activities of contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe, as well as to promote the further advancement of arts and culture.
Background and Mission
Since his debut, Kenji Yanobe has consistently explored the themes of “Survival” and “Revival,” questioning the future of humanity and the potential of art. His major works — “Tanking Machine,” “Atom Suit Project,” “Sun Child,” “SHIP’S CAT,” and “BIG CAT BANG” — have been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, leaving a powerful impact across generations. The foundation’s mission is to preserve and carry forward the legacy of Kenji Yanobe’s artistic practice and to contribute to society through art.
Objectives
1.Exhibition and Public Presentation Projects
・Acting as an agent for the consignment or sale of Kenji Yanobe’s works to museums and public collections.
・Coordinating and mediating exhibition projects and publications related to Kenji Yanobe’s works.
2.Archival Projects
・Publishing a digital catalogue raisonné.
・Producing a digital archive of materials related to his works.
3.Copyright Management
・Managing copyrights and related rights for Kenji Yanobe’sworks.
4.Other Activities Necessary to Achieve the Foundation’s Purpose
Main Activities
●Archiving and Public Access
Systematically preserving, researching, and making available Kenji Yanobe’s representative works and materials.
●Support for Exhibitions, Publications, and Sales Representation
Supporting and producing Kenji Yanobe’s exhibitions and publications both domestically and internationally, while creating new platforms for presentation and collaboration.
●Intellectual Property Management
Managing copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights associated with Kenji Yanobe’s works, and collaborating with producers of reproductions and merchandise to share his artistic vision with a wider audience.
●Support for Creative Environments of Japanese Artists
Beyond projects directly related to Kenji Yanobe, the foundation also envisions supporting the broader artistic ecosystem—assisting other Japanese artists through rights management, critical engagement, and the promotion of traditional techniques to sustain long-term creative activity.
Foundation Overview
Name: Yanobe Kenji Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Date of Establishment: July 30, 2025
Representative Director: Kenji Yanobe
Directors: Manabu Miki, Miwa Ōba
Auditors: Ryō Yanobe, Tomoko Koike (Tomoko Kitamura), Takahito Tokuda (Attorney & Tax Accountant)
Auditor: Takehiro Kimura (Attorney)
Contact
Please contact us using the contact form CONTACT.