There's a moment in every Ron Mueck exhibition when visitors forget they're looking at sculpture. A woman towers five meters above the gallery floor, her skin so impossibly lifelike that you half-expect her to blink. Welcome to one of the most anticipated art events of spring 2026 in Tokyo — the Ron Mueck exhibition at Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills.
The Australian-born, London-based sculptor has spent three decades creating works that defy everything you think you know about figurative art. His pieces range from the impossibly tiny — a newborn baby small enough to fit in your palm — to the monumental, including his famous five-meter Standing Woman that has left audiences speechless from Melbourne to Paris. Now, Tokyo gets its turn.
What Makes Ron Mueck Different
Unlike classical sculpture, Mueck's work lives in the uncanny valley between art and reality. Using silicone, fiberglass, and resin, he renders human skin, hair, and expressions with such precision that photographs often fail to convey whether you're looking at a sculpture or a living person. But here's the twist: by dramatically shifting the scale — making figures either gigantic or miniature — Mueck forces you to see the human body with fresh eyes. A sleeping man the size of a car becomes a meditation on vulnerability. A tiny couple under a beach umbrella becomes an intimate window into aging and companionship.
The Ron Mueck exhibition opens at Mori Art Museum from late April 2026, and if past exhibitions are any guide, expect lines — Mueck's 2023 show in Paris drew over 300,000 visitors.
Planning Your Visit
Mori Art Museum sits on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, which means your art experience comes with one of the best views in Tokyo. The museum is open until 22:00 on most days (17:00 on Tuesdays), making it perfect for an evening visit when the city lights stretch to the horizon.
- Getting there: Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or Toei Oedo Line), then a 5-minute walk through the Roppongi Hills complex. Follow signs for Mori Tower.
- Tickets: Purchase online in advance to skip the queue. Adult tickets typically run ¥2,000–2,200. The ticket also includes access to the Sky Deck outdoor observation platform (weather permitting).
- Best timing: Weekday evenings after 18:00 tend to be the least crowded. Weekend mornings right at opening (10:00) are also manageable.
Making a Day of It in Roppongi
Roppongi's art triangle makes it easy to spend a full day gallery-hopping. From Mori Art Museum, the National Art Center Tokyo is a 10-minute walk south — one of Japan's largest exhibition spaces, with its iconic undulating glass facade. Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo Midtown is another 10-minute walk north, focusing on Japanese art and craft traditions.
For lunch, the Roppongi Hills complex itself has restaurants on every floor, but for something more local, head to the backstreets between Roppongi and Azabu-Juban for excellent ramen, tonkatsu, and surprisingly good international cuisine. Azabu-Juban's shopping street is a charming detour with traditional sweets shops and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere.
Tips for Art Lovers
- Photography policies vary by exhibition — check at the entrance. Mueck exhibitions have historically allowed non-flash photography in most sections.
- The museum shop typically stocks excellent exhibition catalogs and Mueck-related merchandise. These tend to sell out, so buy early.
- Combine with the Tokyo City View observation deck (same floor) for sunset views before diving into the exhibition.
- If you're visiting during Golden Week (April 29–May 6), book everything in advance — Roppongi gets extremely busy.
Ron Mueck's sculptures have a way of staying with you long after you leave the gallery. In a city that moves at the speed of Tokyo, these silent, startlingly human figures ask you to slow down and really look. That alone makes the trip to Roppongi Hills worth every yen.
Image: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
