The Legendary City Pop Artist’s First-Ever Solo Exhibition in Thailand
Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok, in collaboration with River City Bangkok, Singha, Kafae Dam (Black Coffee) and Music Boom, invites art lovers and music enthusiasts to step into a world of sun-drenched nostalgia with “Hiroshi Nagai: Summer Dreaming,” the first-ever solo exhibition in Thailand by legendary Japanese artist Hiroshi Nagai.
Marking a historic debut for one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary artists, the exhibition offers an immersive journey into Nagai’s iconic visual universe where endless summer, timeless memories, and the unmistakable aesthetic of the City Pop era come vividly to life.
Internationally acclaimed as the defining visual artist behind Japan’s City Pop movement, Hiroshi Nagai helped shape the cultural identity of the country’s economic boom during the 1980s. His instantly recognisable album cover illustrations became far more than record sleeves they evolved into enduring symbols of an era, perfectly capturing the optimism, sophistication, and carefree spirit reflected in the music itself.
Through crisp lines, bold colours, and luminous landscapes, Nagai created dreamlike scenes of turquoise swimming pools, swaying palm trees, modernist architecture, and brilliant blue skies. Although his paintings are almost always devoid of people, they evoke an unmistakable sense of presence, inviting viewers into a nostalgic vision of an idealised summer suspended in time. Blending retro Americana with Japanese precision and sensibility, his works continue to inspire generations of artists, designers, musicians, and collectors around the world.
For the first time in Thailand, visitors will have the rare opportunity to experience Hiroshi Nagai’s artistic universe firsthand through an exclusive exhibition celebrating the intersection of art, music, and memory. Audiences can admire the original paintings behind some of the most iconic City Pop album covers, discovering the remarkable textures, brushstrokes, and vibrant colours that cannot be fully appreciated through books or digital screens.
The exhibition also features three rare collectible works spanning the 1980s to the 2010s, alongside four brand-new original paintings created exclusively for Bangkok, making this an unmissable occasion for collectors and fans alike.
Standing before these original canvases offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the origins of an artistic movement that helped define an era. The exhibition reveals how a single painting evolved into an iconic album cover, while exploring the powerful relationship between Nagai’s evocative landscapes and the music they came to represent. Together, the artworks and their accompanying soundscape celebrate the enduring dialogue between visual art and the legendary rhythms of City Pop.
More than an exhibition, “Hiroshi Nagai: Summer Dreaming” is an immersive cultural experience that seamlessly connects fine art with one of Japan’s most influential musical movements. It invites visitors to slow down, embrace the beauty of nostalgia, and rediscover the dreamlike simplicity of endless summer.
“Hiroshi Nagai: Summer Dreaming” is free to the public and will be on view from 4 August to 4 September 2026 at RCB Galleria 1, 2nd Floor, River City Bangkok. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Escape the everyday and step into the world of “Hiroshi Nagai: Summer Dreaming.”
Take a moment to listen, to look, and to linger a little longer in an endless summer dream.
