Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Uniqlo Launch ‘Ukiyo-e Heroes’ T-Shirt Collaboration
| The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), and global apparel retailer Uniqlo have announced a new collection of UT Graphic Tees inspired by ukiyo-e prints from the Museum’s holdings of Japanese art.
Drawing on the success of several earlier collaborations, the “Ukiyo-e Heroes” collection comprises four new T-shirts that offer a contemporary take on musha-e, the traditional Japanese art that dynamically depicts heroes from historical tales and their legendary feats of bravery. The T-shirts are available online, in Uniqlo stores, and at the MFA Shop. |
| The MFA’s collection of more than 50,000 ukiyo-e woodblock prints is among the largest and finest in the world. The Museum showcases a rotating selection in the Japanese Print Gallery, which was renovated with support from Uniqlo and opened in 2024 as part of a suite of newly transformed Arts of Japan galleries. The current installation features cityscapes from Kyoto, Edo (modern Tokyo), and Osaka, which visitors can see on October 25, a free admission day sponsored by Uniqlo that also features art making and performances. |
| “Our partnership with Uniqlo continues to spark an exciting dialogue between art and fashion,” said Debra LaKind, Senior Director, Intellectual Property and Business Development at the MFA. “The MFA’s vast ukiyo-e collection bridges the past and the present, inspiring designs that blend intricate tradition with modern expression. With the ‘Ukiyo-e Heroes’ collection, people everywhere can wear a piece of Japan’s rich visual heritage—bringing timeless art to life in fresh and unexpected ways.” |
“The new T-shirt collection brings the timeless energy and allure of historical heroes to life in a fresh, contemporary way. The designs draw inspiration from four prints by some of the most renowned ukiyo-e masters: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (1786–1864), and Utagawa Hiroshige I (1797–1858). The works include:
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