The British Council's Collection, Exhibited Together

The British Council operates in over 100 countries and regions worldwide, focusing on art, English language, and education. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of its activities in Japan. This historic public institution actively supports the international careers of British artists, particularly in the art field. Its collection, comprising around 9,000 works primarily of modern and contemporary British art, is known as a "Museum Without Walls."


Private Utopia: Places That Belong To Us offers a rare opportunity to see this collection brought together in Japan. The exhibition features British contemporary art, much of which has been created since the 1990s. Approximately 120 works, including paintings, photographs, videos, and sculptures by about 30 artists such as Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas, who have been active since the 1990s, and Elizabeth Price, winner of the Turner Prize in 2012, are presented. These works are explored through keywords like "Landscape," "Narrative," and "Humor."

The exhibition includes works that transform everyday objects, such as Marcus Coates's portrait photograph of himself covered in shaving foam, appearing as a moth, and installations by Mike Nelson, known for his work blending fact and fiction. These pieces invite viewers into worlds that are both familiar and yet unknown.


We live in a "private" era, reached after periods dominated by systems and overflowing with material goods. It is a "utopia" that is both a unique place and connected to everywhere. It is precisely in times like these that we are inspired to explore the world of free British art.

Private Utopia: Places That Belong To Us

Dates: Saturday, January 18 – Sunday, March 9 (Closed Mondays)

Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Fridays until 20:00)

Venue: Tokyo Station Gallery

1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Tel. 03-3212-2485

Admission: General ¥900, High School/University Students ¥700, Elementary/Junior High School Students ¥400