In 2021, a full year into a global pandemic that redefined physical touch and spatial intimacy, the work of the late Japanese artist Namio Harukawa (1947–2020) found a haunting new resonance. The Throne of Reverence was the first major digital retrospective of Harukawa’s career, streamed across gallery platforms in Tokyo, Berlin, and New York. It was not merely an exhibition of erotic art; it was a study in power dynamics, body positivity as radical politics, and the serene violence of female dominance.
This posthumous retrospective showcased Harukawa's original drawings, which are globally recognized for their meticulous focus on "femdom" (female dominance) and fetish art. The exhibition also featured the sale of unique memorial goods and a new collection of his work. "Namio Harukawa: Femdom" ( ATM Gallery NYC , New York) January 23, 2022. namio harukawa gallery 2021
released two comprehensive memorial art books that serve as a culmination of his life's work: Tokyo Art Beat Throne of Domina, or the Pleasure of the Facesittist (Memorial Expanded Edition). Volume II: Facesittings are Forever (Memorial Edition). Artistic Legacy In 2021, a full year into a global
: Since 2021, interest in his original works has grown, with a record price of $4,000 USD reached at auction for an untitled work in 2023. International Exhibitions 2021 Tokyo Memorial Events NAMIO PR — ATM Gallery NYC released two comprehensive memorial art books that serve
It can be challenging to find specific, curated collections of Namio Harukawa’s work because the nature of his art (erotic/fetish) often clashes with mainstream gallery hosting and copyright enforcement. While there wasn't a major, official "2021 Gallery" event hosted by a museum, 2021 was a significant year for digital rediscovery of his work following his passing in 2020.