October 15, 2011 – March 17, 2012

Since the 1980’s, Japanese comics (i.e. manga) have been capturing the attention of the American public and inspiring artists and fans. This exhibition celebrates the art of manga and explores its popularity with American audiences. Both longtime fans and those new to manga will enjoy the illustrations, collectibles, and manga-inspired wall murals, all of which highlight manga’s impact on American reading habits, fan culture, and artwork. A special section of the exhibition will include step-by-step drawings to help visitors understand the process of creating manga. The exhibition also showcases nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Japanese prints and textiles that are an early example of how Americans developed a taste for Japanese culture and spurred a market suited to their preferences.