Yukako Yamashita will step down as director of Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK) after leading the fair since 2022. The four-day event, 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, awarding WangShui and Takuro Tamayama a residency in Bangkok. ACK will return November 6–9, 2025.
This leadership change matters because ACK has become a key platform bridging Japan's art market with international galleries and collectors, particularly as the fair expands its global reach. The director's departure signals a transition for an event that has grown significantly, with strong sales reported to Japanese and European collectors. Meanwhile, other developments in the article—such as Yoshitomo Nara joining David Zwirner, record auction prices for Zhang Peili and Ni Zan, and new museum projects in Dubai and Hangzhou—reflect broader shifts in the Asian art market and institutional landscape.