Yukako Yamashita will step down as director of Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK) after leading the fair since 2022. The four-day fair, which concluded at the Kyoto International Conference Center, featured 72 galleries from 19 countries and regions, with 29 Japan-based galleries hosting 30 international galleries in shared booths—its largest edition yet. Highlights included Annely Juda Fine Art's sale of three David Hockney works and Kurimanzutto selling 75 percent of its solo booth with artist WangShui. The fair also launched the Bangkok Collaborate Kyoto Fellowship with Bangkok Kunsthalle, awarding WangShui and Takuro Tamayama a month-long residency in Bangkok. ACK will return next year from November 6 to 9.
This leadership change matters because ACK has become a key platform bridging Japanese and international galleries, with growing sales to Japanese and European collectors. The fair's expansion and new fellowship program signal deepening ties between art scenes in Japan and Southeast Asia. Additionally, the article covers major market moves including Yoshitomo Nara joining David Zwirner's roster, record auction prices for Zhang Peili and Ni Zan, and institutional developments like Snøhetta's museum design win in Hangzhou and Tadao Ando's selection for the Dubai Museum of Art.