On view from September 14, 2026 through summer 2027, “Isamu Noguchi at Lever House” revisits one of the most significant unrealized collaborations in the history of American modernism. Marking the 75th anniversary of both Lever House and Noguchi’s iconic Akari light sculptures, the exhibition explores the dialogue between artist Isamu Noguchi and architect Gordon Bunshaft, whose shared ambition to unite art and architecture found its earliest expression at Lever House. 

When Lever House first opened in 1952, it defined a new relationship between the office building and the public realm. Rather than maximizing rentable floor area, SOM created an open public plaza where art, landscape, and architecture could be brought together. Working closely with Bunshaft, Noguchi developed two extraordinary—yet unrealized—proposals for the building’s courtyard. As Bunshaft later recalled in an interview, “We hoped to have sculpture integrated with the total design, including landscape, and Noguchi was the only sculptor that I knew of in the world who had the requisite knowledge of architecture, of plant material and space design.”

This exhibition reunites Noguchi with Lever House. Sculptures, models, and drawings are installed throughout the courtyard plaza and lobby. To mark the anniversary, a special presentation of Akari light sculptures illuminates the lobby facing Park Avenue.

“Isamu Noguchi at Lever House” is presented in collaboration with BGRE, WatermanCLARK, and White Cube. It is organized by Jacob King, who oversees Lever House’s art program, and curated by Hitomi Iwasaki, Head Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, and Matthew Kirsch, Curator and Director of Research, of The Noguchi Museum.