Community:VR Photography Exhibitions
VR photography exhibitions are real-world gallery shows and competitions that display photographs taken inside VRChat and other virtual spaces. Since 2024, several recurring exhibition series have brought virtual photography into physical venues across Japan, often printing works with professional photographic processes.
PHOTO IS
PHOTO IS is Fujifilm's annual participatory photography exhibition, running since 2006 under the full title "PHOTO IS: Connecting Thoughts – You Are the Star of the Photo Exhibition". In 2026, it introduced a VR PHOTO category for photographs taken in VRChat, organized jointly with Make Smile Project.[1]
All submitted works are exhibited at the entrant's chosen physical venue and in an online exhibition on the official website. The venue features a "Bond Post" project where visitors leave handwritten messages for exhibited works; these messages are mailed to the photographers.[1]
| Venue | Dates |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | July 18–23, 2026 |
| Sendai | Late August 2026 |
| Osaka | September 19–22, 2026 |
| Online | September 25 – December 20, 2026 |
Submissions were accepted until May 20, 2026, with an entry fee of ¥660. Each entrant receives a 152 x 152 mm square print at home.[1]
Virtual Photography Showcase
The Virtual Photography Showcase is an exhibition series organized by virtual photographer AmaNeko and supported by Phonnect. It presents VRChat photography in public art spaces, aiming to introduce virtual culture and its artistic potential to audiences outside of virtual spaces.[2]
| Edition | Dates | Venue | Photographers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | April 30 – May 5, 2024 | Ebisu, Tokyo | 6 |
| 2025 | July 23–28, 2025 | Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Art, Citizen B Gallery | 8 |
| 2026 | June 30 – July 5, 2026 | Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Art, Citizen B Gallery | 13 |
The 2025 edition featured eight invited photographers and attracted over 2,200 visitors.[3][2] The 2026 edition features thirteen invited photographers from Japan and abroad, with free admission. It introduces the "Virtual Photography Advance Program (VPAP)", encouraging works informed by art history and advanced photographic expression.[2]
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Key visual for Virtual Photography Showcase 2025. -
Key visual for Virtual Photography Showcase 2026.
VR PHOTO COMPETITION
The VR PHOTO COMPETITION is an annual photo contest organized by Make Smile Project with support from Fujifilm. Entries must be photographs taken in VRChat and are judged as physical prints produced using Fujifilm's silver halide process. Award-winning works are exhibited at FUJIFILM SQUARE in Tokyo Midtown, with a simultaneous virtual exhibition at House of Photography in Metaverse.[4]
| Edition | Theme | Entry period | Exhibition dates | Exhibition venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "Shining Memories Of 2024" | October 4–31, 2024 | November 29 – December 12, 2024 | FUJIFILM SQUARE, Tokyo Midtown |
| 2025 | "2025 BEST MOMENT" | October 27 – November 17, 2025 | December 12–26, 2025 | FUJIFILM SQUARE, Tokyo Midtown |
The 2024 edition was the first public competition and its twelve selected works were exhibited as part of VR PHOTO EXHIBITION Vol. 3.[5][6] The 2025 edition selected fifteen works for exhibition: one Grand Prize, two Excellence Awards, five Judges' Special Awards, and seven Selected Works. Prize winners received Fujifilm instax products and print coupons.[7][4]
VR PHOTO EXHIBITION
The VR PHOTO EXHIBITION is a series of group exhibitions produced by Make Smile Project in collaboration with Fujifilm. The exhibitions display VRChat photographs as physical prints made with Fujifilm's silver halide printing and WALL DECOR products.[8]
| Edition | Dates | Venue | Photographers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | January 26 – February 7, 2024 | WONDER PHOTO SHOP, Harajuku, Tokyo | 6 |
| Vol. 2 | August 9–21, 2024 | WONDER PHOTO SHOP, Harajuku, Tokyo | 11 |
| Vol. 3 | November 29 – December 12, 2024 | FUJIFILM SQUARE, Tokyo Midtown | 19 works (12 public, 7 invited) |
| Vol. 4 | May 16 – June 4, 2025 | WONDER PHOTO SHOP, Harajuku, Tokyo | 5 |
Vol. 1, was the first exhibition in the series and included a free VR experience event on February 3, 2024.[9] Vol. 2, featured eleven VRChat photographers across a physical gallery and a simultaneous virtual exhibition at Fujifilm's House of Photography in Metaverse.[10] Vol. 3 was the first edition to include a public competition (the VR PHOTO COMPETITION), exhibiting twelve publicly submitted works alongside seven invited artists, all printed in A3 silver halide format.[5][6] Vol. 4 featured five photographers and included a participatory "VR PHOTO WALL" where visitors could print and display their own photographs.[11]
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Exhibition space at Wonder Photo Shop showing WALL DECOR prints and printed goods. -
Another view of the Vol.4 exhibition space. -
Visitors viewing the exhibition and the participatory "VR PHOTO WALL". -
Works by Konohana Yuna displayed as WALL DECOR prints. -
Works by mo4ca using a panoramic camera technique. -
Works by Glow focusing on male avatar photography. -
Works by Nano capturing VRChat world landscapes.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 FUJIFILM Photo Exhibition "PHOTO IS 2026" will feature a VR PHOTO section, showcasing photos taken in VRChat in Tokyo, Sendai, and Osaka on Mogura VR, March 18, 2026. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Virtual Photography Showcase 2026 開催決定。日本と海外のバーチャルフォトグラファー13名の作品を金沢21世紀美術館 市民Bギャラリーで展示 on PR TIMES. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ バーチャルフォト展示会「Virtual Photography Showcase 2025」が金沢21世紀美術館にて開催決定！ on メタカル最前線. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 VR PHOTO COMPETITION 2025 Supported by FUJIFILM at vrphotoexhibition.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 VR PHOTO EXHIBITION Vol.3 on FUJIFILM SQUARE. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 バーチャル写真コンペ「VR PHOTO COMPETITION Supported by FUJIFILM」、10月31日までエントリー受付中 on メタカル最前線. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ VR PHOTO COMPETITION 2025 入賞作品展 on FUJIFILM SQUARE. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ VR PHOTO EXHIBITION VOL.4〜バーチャルで撮り、リアルで魅せる、新しい写真表現〜 on WONDER PHOTO SHOP. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ VR PHOTO EXHIBITION〜A NEW WORLD WITH SIX VR PHOTOGRAPHERS〜 Supported by FUJIFILM on WONDER PHOTO SHOP. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ REALXVIRTUAL VR PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION Supported by FUJIFILM on WONDER PHOTO SHOP. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ↑ VR PHOTOは進化し続ける 「VR PHOTO EXHIBITION Vol.4」が6/4まで開催 on PANORA. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
