The story of “Swimmy,” the only black fish among his red brothers and sisters, is included in the elementary school textbook and is familiar to people all across Japan. The creator, Leo Lionni (1910–1999) worked in graphic design in Italy and the U.S.A. before stepping into the world of picture books for the first time with his work “Little Blue and Little Yellow.” His small main characters, such as the mouse “Frederick” and the inchworm from “Inch by Inch,” search for what they are, and the stories of their learning are illustrated using a variety of techniques including watercolors, oil painting, and collage. This exhibition will introduce Lionni’s turbulent life, continually moving through Europe and the United States, overlapping with his works. We will inform you of his wide range of activities, such as his work as a creator of picture books and an art director, his painting, and his sculpting, shedding light on his path to incorporating abstract impressionism in children’s picture books for the first time.