Shaping worlds through craft and identity: Three new exhibitions at ASU Art Museum

Three exhibitions are opening at the ASU Art Museum Feb. 22, 2025: “Cooperative Craft: Artmaking of the Mingei Movement” and “José Villalobos: Rough Rider” and the second rotation of the “Chicano/a/x Prints and Graphics: Selections from the Hispanic Research Center’s Collection, 1980–2010.” Together, these exhibitions offer compelling explorations of tradition, identity and the transformative power of art.

Cooperative Craft: Artmaking of the Mingei Movement

Born in Japan in the late 1920s, the Mingei Movement celebrated the beauty of everyday objects and the artistry of functional design. Running through July 13, 2025, “Cooperative Craft” showcases the work of five key artists who shaped the movement –– Hamada Shōji, Kawai Kanjiro, Shimaoka Tatsuzō, Bernard Leach and Minagawa Masu –– alongside traditional ceramics from Japan’s communal kiln sites. These objects underscore the Movement’s commitment to community, craftsmanship and sustainability.

The exhibition also features works by Chinese sculptor Liu Shiming, whose focus on rural life and cultural heritage mirrors many themes of the Mingei Movement. By drawing connections between Liu’s work and the movement’s principles, “Cooperative Craft” highlights the global resonance of community-based artmaking practices.

“This exhibition is a tribute to the enduring spirit of the Mingei Movement,” said Sade Moore, Windgate Curatorial Fellow and the exhibition’s organizer. “We hope to inspire audiences to reflect on the significance of everyday objects and the beauty inherent in craftsmanship.”

José Villalobos: Rough Ride

“José Villalobos: Rough Rider” marks the first solo U.S. museum exhibition by multidisciplinary artist José Villalobos (b. 1988, El Paso, Texas). Organized by Alana Hernandez, senior curator at ASU Art Museum, with Sade Moore, Windgate Curatorial Fellow, the exhibition runs through June 15, 2025. The presentation features entirely new installation- and performance-based works that were created while Villalobos was in residence with CALA Alliance in Fall 2024.

Villalobos interrogates and deconstructs aspects of gender and masculinity found within the U.S. / Mexico borderlands from the perspective of a queer Latinx man. “Rough Rider” delves into the spectacle of rodeo culture, taking the sport as a point of departure to address themes related to machismo, protection and performing gender, while situating these issues within the vibrant contexts of metropolitan Phoenix.

“Villalobos’ work is both deeply personal and universally resonant,” said Hernandez. “Through his exploration of identity and power structures, ‘Rough Rider’ invites audiences to engage with critical conversations about culture, tradition and resilience.”

Chicano/a/x Prints and Graphics: Selections from the Hispanic Research Center’s Collection, 1980–2010

Presented in two parts, this unique exhibition explores how Chicano/a/x artists have utilized prints and graphics to confront social injustices, celebrate cultural heritage and challenge dominant stereotypes. Traced chronologically, the first rotation of “Chicano/a/x Prints and Graphics” followed the political origins of Chicano/a/x prints from the 1980s to the 1990s. The gallery delved into themes of political activism, self-determination and the home and familiar scenes. In the second rotation, the exhibition moves into the early 2000s, exploring the evolving notions of Chicanx identity that continue to shape our cultural landscape. From portraiture to politicized pop, the second rotation focuses on themes of migration, constructing identity and place.

Organized in partnership with Arizona State University’s Hispanic Research Center (HRC), “Chicano/a/x Prints and Graphics” highlights the bold aesthetic statements of artists who have resisted and redefined societal norms. Through their art, they invite visitors to engage with themes of social justice, political activism and cultural resilience.

Highlights: 

Rare works from the Mingei Movement, including pieces by Hamada Shōji and Kawai Kanjiro. A selection of ceramics from communal kiln sites in Japan, emphasizing the role of community in craft. New installation works by José Villalobos addressing machismo, trauma and border politics.

Visit asuartmuseum.org to learn more about the exhibitions and RSVP for the Feb. 22 opening reception.