Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema

The Painted Prayers exhibition highlights the Japanese folk painting tradition of ema, which are house-shaped wooden votive plaques used as prayers in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. The exhibition presents a variety of ema, ranging from the 18th century to the present day, showcasing their colorful imagery and the prayers associated with them. Curated by Japanese art historian Meher McArthur, this is the first museum exhibition in the United States to display such an extensive collection of ema.