Comet Calendar
In Conversation with Gajin Fujita
Friday, April 17, 2026 5:30pm
Friday, April 17, 2026 5:30pm
Join us for a moderated conversation between exhibition curator, Delwyn Davis, and featured artist Gajin Fujita, whose work is on view in Paper Knife: Objects of Beauty in Early Modern Japan. 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.
Crow Museum of Asian Art in the Downtown Dallas Arts District
2010 Flora St., Dallas, TX, 75201
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
Crow Museum of Asian Art
2010 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201
Undergraduate Students, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, General Public, Prospective Students, Graduate Students, International Students
UTD strives to create inclusive and accessible events in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact the event coordinator (listed above) at least 10 business days prior to the event. If you have any additional questions, please email ADACoordinator@utdallas.edu and the AccessAbility Resource Center at accessability@utdallas.edu.