Sunday, February 1, 2026
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Shumei Hall
2430 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
Japanese art historian and curator Meher McArthur will discuss her new memoir, A Japanese Art Journey (Tuttle, 2025), and share how Japanese art – from ceramics, swords, prints and textiles to Buddhist art, folk painting, and animation – not only inspired her, but helped to illuminate her place in the world.
Meher McArthur:
Japanese art historian and curator Meher McArthur grew up in Scotland, Canada, and England. Originally planning a career in international business, she studied Japanese and spent two years in Japan, where she discovered a deep passion for Japanese art. She became a Japanese art historian, served as curator at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena for eight years, and has spent over 25 years curating exhibitions in museums, galleries, and national tours.
In her 2025 memoir, A Japanese Art Journey, she shares her experiences exploring Japanese art—from ceramics and prints to Buddhist and contemporary art. In this talk, she will show how art can inspire and illuminate one’s place in the world.