By Patricia Belyea
Today is a somber day. Kei Kawasaki’s special gallery has closed its doors forever, marking the loss of one of Kyoto’s cherished establishments.
During Okan Arts’ visit to Gallery Kei last November, Kei-san shared with our tour group the story behind her gallery. Originally an artist, Kei-san exhibited a leather bag adorned with folk textiles that she had crafted herself.
In her quest for primitive textiles for her artistic projects, Kei-san realized her passion for old textiles surpassed her desire to create art objects.
Kei-san established Gallery Kei 32 years ago, specializing in old folk textiles, crafts, and pottery. In 2001, the gallery relocated to its current location on historic Teramachi-dori, refining its focus on rare natural fibers.
Her collection featured precious pre-cotton textiles—fabrics made from wild trees and plants such as wisteria, elm, linden, kudzu, mulberry, banana tree, hemp, and ramie.
Through Yumi, our Japanese tour expert, we learned that Kei-san suffered critical injuries in a serious accident in January. When our tours visited Kyoto in February and March, a handwritten note on the shop window informed visitors that the gallery would be closed indefinitely.
This month, via Instagram, we received an update. Kei-san remains in a coma since the accident, and her family has decided that “Gallery Kei is Kei Kawasaki herself, and that it would not exist without Kei.” Therefore, the gallery’s closure date was set for June 30.
Here are photos from our November visit:
I purchased a very old bolt of handwoven indigo cotton adorned with hand-tied shibori motifs. It is the most valuable Japanese textile I’ve ever acquired, now more dear to me as Gallery Kei bids farewell.
My thoughts and prayers are with Kei-san, hoping for her recovery. My heart also goes out to her family as they navigate this difficult time.
ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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