The High Museum of Art in Atlanta has launched "Isamu Noguchi: ‘I am not a designer’," the first major design retrospective of the artist’s work in nearly 25 years. Featuring approximately 200 objects, the exhibition spans Noguchi's diverse career, from early commercial products like the Radio Nurse and fashion illustrations to his iconic furniture for Herman Miller and Knoll. The show is organized thematically, exploring how Noguchi blurred the lines between industrial design, architecture, and fine art.
The exhibition is anchored by Atlanta's unique connection to the artist: Piedmont Park is home to Playscapes, the only playground Noguchi completed in the United States during his lifetime. Co-curated by Monica Obniski and Marin R. Sullivan, the retrospective coincides with the 50th anniversary of the playground's commission and aims to elevate Atlanta’s position in the national design dialogue. By timing the show to overlap with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the museum intends to showcase the city's cultural landscape to a global audience.