A playful new exhibition is giving skeletons a starring role in Minneapolis. “Bare Bones: Skeletons in Japanese Art” opened on October 24, 2026, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art — Mia — and remains on view through January 3, 2027. The show is free and presented in the Cargill Gallery (103), making it an easy addition to a visit to one of the city’s most beloved museums.
Mia explains that skulls and skeletons have long been a popular subject in Japanese art, appearing in paintings, prints and book illustrations, and taking center stage especially as understanding of anatomy grew in the 19th century. Rather than aiming for fright, this exhibition shows them in a lifelike, humorous way. Its highlight is a recently acquired pair of six-panel folding screens by Takeuchi Ryūa, a memorable work that shows skeletons at play.
For Happy City News readers looking for art with a seasonal twist in late October — and a reason to return before the holidays end — “Bare Bones” offers a short, joyful encounter with Mia’s renowned Asian art holdings. Support is provided by the Gale Family Endowment. Mia is at 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis; check the museum’s official exhibition page for visiting details and plan a slow look at every grin, gesture and bony dance step.
Photo: Minneapolis Institute of Art, by City of Minneapolis Archives via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
