Executive Advisor Kataoka Mami Appointed the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Republic

Kataoka Mami, Executive Advisor (former Director) of the National Center for Art Research (NCAR) and Director of the Mori Art Museum, has been appointed to the Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) at the rank of Chevalier by the French Republic.

On September 8, 2026, a joint investiture ceremony was held at the Residence of the Ambassador of France in Japan, where Kataoka received her insignia alongside artist Shiota Chiharu, who was appointed to the rank of Officier of the Order of Arts and Letters. The insignia were presented by Her Excellency Béatrice Le Fraper du Hellen, Ambassador of France to Japan.

Over many years, Kataoka has been dedicated to promoting contemporary art internationally and fostering cultural exchange across borders. The exhibition Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, which opened at the Mori Art Museum in 2019, achieved significant international success through its subsequent tour to venues around the world, including a presentation at the Grand Palais in Paris from 2024 to 2025. The exhibition is also scheduled to open at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada on September 26, 2026.

Through her work at the National Center for Art Research, Kataoka has also advanced international collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, including curator exchange initiatives and the establishment of the NCAR × AWARE Women Artists Research Fellowship. She currently serves as Executive Advisor, continuing to support the NCAR’s activities and its efforts to expand opportunities for international exchange.

Investiture Ceremony Photo
Photo: Tayama Tatsuyuki
Image courtesy of Mori Art Museum

From left to right: Shiota Chiharu, Béatrice Le Fraper du Hellen, and Kataoka Mami. (Honorifics omitted.)