Takashi Murakami transforms the Cleveland Museum of Art with ‘Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow’ exhibition

This summer, the Cleveland Museum of Art presents a powerful Takashi Murakami exhibition: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow. On view from May 25th through September 7th, 2025, the exhibition explores how contemporary art can confront collective trauma and cultural memory. This immersive Takashi Murakami installation is housed in the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Exhibition Hall and Gallery and showcases a unique mix of sculpture, painting, and large-scale digital works.

At the center of Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow is a full-scale reimagining of the Yumedono (Dream Hall), an iconic structure from Nara, Japan. Inside this sacred space, Murakami has installed four monumental paintings—Blue Dragon Kyoto, Vermillion Bird Kyoto, White Tiger Kyoto, and Black Tortoise Kyoto—each offering a vibrant reinterpretation of ancient cosmological figures through a contemporary lens. This Takashi Murakami installation was developed in collaboration with the creative team behind the acclaimed TV series Shōgun.

One of the most impactful moments in Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow exhibition is the 82-foot-long painting In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow, which addresses the emotional and environmental aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. This monumental piece, along with others in the show, is thoughtfully paired with works from the museum’s permanent collection—an intentional curatorial move that emphasizes dialogue between classical and contemporary forms.

Colorful, conceptual, and deeply rooted in both pop culture and spirituality, this Takashi Murakami installation blends fantasy with historical reflection. With Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow, Murakami challenges audiences to engage with memory, mythology, and resilience in the face of crisis. The result is more than an exhibition—it’s an invitation to experience transformation through art.