THE GALLERY by Odo Launches "The Culinary Exhibition Series" — A New Culinary Platform Bringing Japan's Finest Chefs to New York
Exhibition-style chef series pairs the language of art galleries with the craft of Japanese cuisine; media preview held September 22 ahead of the September 29 opening of the second installment by Yoshoku Nakago
THE GALLERY by Odo, led by Chef Hiroki Odo of Michelin two-star Japanese restaurant Odo, announces the launch of The Culinary Exhibition Series, a continuing culinary platform that invites Japan's most remarkable chefs to create, showcase, and leave a lasting imprint on the New York dining landscape.
Positioned as a "culinary exhibition" — the food-world counterpart to the art exhibitions that define New York's gallery culture — the program reframes the traditional guest-chef pop-up as a curated, accumulating series. Each edition is presented as an exhibition: titled, numbered, and archived. THE GALLERY by Odo serves not as a venue but as the host and curator, ensuring that the platform itself — not any single visiting chef — remains the protagonist.
"Many guest-chef events currently being held at restaurants attract significant attention, but most of them ultimately remain one-off occasions," said Chef Hiroki Odo. "The Culinary Exhibition Series is designed as a platform to introduce the creations of talented culinary teams from Japan and elsewhere to new markets—and to build upon those collaborations over time. Each chef leaves a part of their technique and artistry with us through our restaurant, and that becomes part of our story."
A Series, Not a Single Night
The program's first installment is recognized retrospectively: the Spring 2026 Ramen FeeL residency, whose signature soy-sauce ramen remains on the menu today — proof of the platform's core promise that exhibited dishes continue to be served after the chef departs.
The second installment, presented by Yoshoku Nakago, will open on September 29, 2026.
Upcoming editions will follow a Four Seasons structure: four residencies per year, each spanning approximately two months.
Introducing Japan's Talents
The platform's guiding spirit aligns with a broader vision: introducing the breadth and depth of Japan's culinary talent to American audiences. It is bound by craft, by story, and by the desire to show New York something it has never tasted before.
"We're not talking about sushi or kaiseki — the Japan that most Americans know," said Takuya Katsumura, Brand Director at Sky Blue Hospitality. "We're talking about Japan that even most Japanese people are still discovering. The Culinary Exhibition Series is our way of opening that door."
About Odo Hospitality
Odo Hospitality is a constellation of intimate dining and drinking concepts anchored in New York's Flatiron district, created by Chef Hiroki Odo. At its heart is Odo, a two-Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant recognized by The New York Times as one of New York's best, offering a multi-course journey rooted in Japanese tradition and reimagined for the modern era. The Odo universe extends across Odo Lounge, a hidden speakeasy offering premium Japanese mixology; HALL, a convivial neighborhood bar celebrated for its Japanese-influenced burgers and elevated cocktails; THE GALLERY by Odo, an art-forward culinary space pairing elevated Japanese small plates and sake with rotating art exhibitions; and Odo East Village, home to Chef Odo's original "Kaiseki Izakaya" concept blending technical precision with the warmth of a neighborhood izakaya. Rounding out the portfolio are Odo Lab, an evolving platform for culinary innovation and cultural programming, Sushi Muse, a luxury sushi delivery concept, and Odo at Home, a digital boutique offering artisanal tableware and Japanese lifestyle objects. Together, these concepts reflect Chef Odo's abiding commitment to Japanese craft, cross-disciplinary creativity, and quiet luxury.
For more information, visit www.odo.nyc
About THE GALLERY by Odo
Founded by Hiroki Odo in 2021, THE GALLERY by Odo is a hybrid restaurant, cultural venue, and creative space located in New York City’s Flatiron District at 17 West 20th Street. Built on Chef Odo’s lifelong passion for the arts, THE GALLERY regularly hosts exhibitions, culinary collaborations, and curated dining events that highlight cross-disciplinary creativity. Managed in the spirit of Odo’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, the space serves as a platform for innovation in both the culinary and cultural realms. For more information, visit www.odogallery.nyc.