In Conversation with Gajin Fujita

Join us for a moderated conversation between exhibition curator, Delwyn Davis, and featured artist Gajin Fujita, whose work is on view in . Moving from the historical realities of the samurai class to its mythologized presence in contemporary American imagination, the discussion will consider how Fujita draws on Japanese visual traditions such as ukiyo-e prints, gold-leaf screens, and warrior iconography while merging them with the language of graffiti, pop culture, and urban Los Angeles. Together, Davis and Fujita will reflect on the curatorial strategy of placing Fujita’s work in dialogue with objects from the Crow collection, examining how history, identity, and the Western gaze shape evolving interpretations of the samurai today.

The conversation will also address Fujita’s process, materials, and personal history, including intergenerational influence and the blending of craft and street practice. Audience members will gain deeper insight into how historical narratives are reframed through contemporary art, and how the samurai endures as both cultural symbol and evolving myth.

Come early for a happy hour beginning at 5:00 pm, prior to the conversation.

Free and open to the public. Advanced registration is encouraged.

Parking: Attendees can park in the Trammell Crow Center garage for two hours and get their tickets validated by the front desk.

Image: Gajin Fujita, Demon Slayer, 2015, spray paint, paint markers, Mean Streak, 12k white gold, 24k gold and platinum leaf on wood panels

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Host or Publisher Crow Museum of Asian Art