February 05, 2026
The Rothko Chapel, located in Houston, Texas, USA, and the International House of Japan (IHJ) located in Tokyo, Japan, signed an MOU today to establish a new international cultural network and further advance global cultural exchange and outreach. IHJ will partner with the Rothko Chapel to advance private-sector diplomacy aimed at the promotion of peace. Through this partnership, the two organizations will establish a joint advisory body to guide the development and implementation of related programs, while further strengthening engagement with partners and other like-minded institutions worldwide.
IHJ announced in March 2025 that Mark Rothko’s Seagram Murals series, formerly housed at the Kawamura DIC Museum of Art, will be relocated to the International House of Japan’s planned new West-Wing and IHJ will create and operate a new dedicated space named the “Rothko Room”. Centered on the Rothko Room, these initiatives will include symposiums, lectures, and cultural exchange programs, through which the spiritual and social value of art will be communicated to the international community.
Founded in 1971 in Houston, Texas, USA, the Rothko Chapel is a non-denominational chapel that permanently houses fourteen seminal mural paintings created by Mark Rothko with support from French-born philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil. Internationally acclaimed, the Rothko Chapel serves as a unique space that transcends religious, cultural, and national boundaries, fostering introspection, dialogue, and reconciliation through art. It also functions as a globally significant hub for initiatives focused on social transformation, human rights, and peace, demonstrating the enduring power of art to engage with critical issues facing contemporary society.
The International House of Japan is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1952 with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation and other organizations and individuals in Japan and abroad, with the mission of promoting international understanding through cultural exchange and intellectual cooperation between the people of Japan and the world. Marking its 70th anniversary, IHJ has articulated a vision of becoming “a leading hub for intellectual exchange in the Asia-Pacific region” and, in addition to its long-standing engagement in Track 1 and Track 2 diplomacy, is committed to advancing “Track 3” diplomacy through art, design, and culture.
This collaboration was realized in alignment with this commitment to promoting “Track 3” diplomacy and with the Rothko Chapel’s long-standing role as a space that transcends religious, cultural, and national boundaries, fostering introspection, dialogue, and reconciliation through art.
“This inspiring partnership embodies a shared commitment to stewardship, dialogue, and the enduring responsibility we hold toward cultural heritage.” said Rothko Chapel President Imam Abdullah Antepli. “We are honored to collaborate with DIC and the International House of Japan in caring for Mark Rothko’s legacy while cultivating new spaces for reflection and international exchange. Together, we look toward a future in which art fosters mutual understanding, quiet contemplation, and lasting connections between societies across generations to come.”
“As the international order grows increasingly fractured, the importance of creating a space where global leaders can reflect, spend time together, deepen mutual understanding, and seek new pathways towards peace has never been greater.” said the IHJ Chairman James Kondo. “Speaking from a uniquely Japanese perspective, the feudal lords of Japan’s historical ‘Warring States’ period had such a place. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony room was regarded as a sacred, serene space where weapons were set aside and people could engage with one another beyond status or power. In today’s increasingly turbulent world, culture such as this can play a unique role in helping to bring people together. Working in collaboration with our partners, it is my hope that the new ‘Rothko Room’ will advance a contemporary form of ‘tea ceremony diplomacy’ for these challenging times.”
[ About the Rothko Chapel ]
The Rothko Chapel serves as a reflective, sacred space and presents programming that promotes spirituality, creativity, dialogue and action leading to more equitable, empowered and engaged communities in Houston and beyond. Founded by Dominique and John de Menil, the Chapel was dedicated in 1971 as an interfaith, nonsectarian sanctuary, and invites visitors from around the world to experience the power and sanctity of Mark Rothko’s monumental paintings alongside Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk sculpture dedicated to the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Chapel is open for daily visitation in Houston, Texas, Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-6pm. For more information, please visit https://rothkochapel.org.
[ About the International House of Japan ]
The International House of Japan has been a pioneer in private diplomacy and international cultural exchange in Japan. Since its establishment in 1952, it has consistently contributed to the peace and prosperity of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. Its mission is to “contribute to building a free, open, and sustainable future through intellectual dialogue, policy research, and cultural exchange with a diverse world,” and its vision is to “become a hub for intellectual exchange in the Asia-Pacific region.” The main building of the International House of Japan, a registered tangible cultural property, is a notable example of modernist architecture, while its garden, designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, is considered a masterpiece. The forthcoming West Wing, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects SANAA, will expand public-interest programs in the Think Tank and Art & Design departments. For more information, please visit https://ihj.global/en/.
Media inquiries should be addressed to:
Rothko Chapel
1410 B Sul Ross Street, Houston, Texas, USA 77006
Email: communications@rothkochapel.org
Tel: +1-713-660-1403
Public Relations Group, The International House of Japan
11-16, Roppongi 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 106-0032
Email: pr-r@ihj.global
Tel: +81-3-3470-9810