Mingei: Art Without Heroes

Pre-order - Expected shipping date 26 March 2024

An exploration of the evolution of the Japanese Mingei (folk art) movement within the context of today’s concerns.

Published to coincide with the exhibition 'Art Without Heroes: Mingei', curated by Roisin Inglesby, taking place at the William Morris Gallery from 23 March 2024 - 22 September 2024.


Originating in Japan in the 1920s, the Mingei movement was based on the principle that beauty is inherent in handmade, everyday objects created by anonymous craftspeople. Spearheaded by the philosopher Yanagi Sōetsu, and potters Hamada Shōji and Bernard Leach, the movement sought to elevate the status of folk craft in a rapidly modernising society. 

This richly-illustrated book covers a wide range of objects associated with Mingei, from ceramics and furniture to textiles and toys, alongside a series of profiles of leading designers and makers working in Japan today. Contributors from a variety of backgrounds explore Mingei’s origins, interpretations and contemporary implications, shedding new light on the ways in which the principles of the movement remain relevant to today’s personal, social and environmental concerns.

Published by Yale University Press

Hardcover – 168 pages - 2024

ISBN 9780300274288