Today we’d like to introduce you to Ikki Matsumoto.
Hi Ikki, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Biography
1935 -Ikki was born in Tokyo, Japan to a well-known cartoonist and children’s book illustrator.
1955 -Came to the United States to study at the John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana Where his older brother was a sculpture student.
1957 -Transferred to the Art Academy of Cincinnati to study under the renowned humorous wildlife artist, Charles Harper.
1959 -Graduated from art school and began work at a Cincinnati advertising agency. Married fellow student, Polly Adamson.
1961 -Rand McNally published a two-volume book of punch out animals designed by Ikki. Left the agency to work at an art studio.
1970 -Still working in the advertising field as an illustrator and designer, Ikki and Polly move to a 50-acre farm in Loveland, Ohio. The family grew to two sons, one daughter, Five Horses, one donkey, three dogs, a lot of cats, four goats, a dozen or so chickens, a few ducks, one monkey and a skunk.
1972 -Ikki left the studio and established his own business at the farm. His work included: book illustration, newspaper ads, package and display designs, etc. He was commissioned to illustrate The Joy of Cooking.
1975 -Unsatisfied with the advertising field, Ikki and his family moved from the Ohio farm to Sanibel Island, Florida. There he established a new career as a painter and printmaker using the native birds as his subjects.
1980 -To be near to his ailing father, Ikki and his family moved to Oregon where he produced a series of west coast landscape painting. After one year, they returned to Florida.
1985 -Ikki was 1 of 50 artist chose by First Lady, Nancy Reagan to paint an Easter egg. It is now in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum. The C&S National Bank on Sanibel commissioned 30 original paintings which are on public display throughout their building. It is the largest corporate collection of Ikki’s work.
1987 -The Matsumoto’s rescued an old beach house, moved it to Tarpon Bay Road and transformed it into a showroom for Ikki’s works as well as works by other local artists and craftsmen.
1990 -One of Japan’s national television networks featured Ikki and his family in a 30 minute documentary. the program was one in a series which portrayed Japanese persons living successfully abroad with no business ties to big Japanese Corporations.
1991 -Polly managed the gallery while Ikki continued to produce paintings and prints for his exhibitions that were held biannually in Sanibel and Tokyo.
1997 -Ikki and Polly closed their gallery on Sanibel so they could devote more time and energy to painting and weaving.
1999 -They Moved to Arcadia, Florida with enough acreage for two dogs, a horse, a donkey and a pond full of Koi.
2002 -They soon returned to the island and reopened their gallery in The Village Shops. Ikki continued to produce posters for the Island Reporter and the Rotary’s Club Annual Craft Fair as well as the cover design of the Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce Magazine.
2005 -Ikki continued to produce paintings and prints. He designed annual posters for the Island Reporter Newspaper and other local organizations. He and Polly participated in an annual group exhibit at Big Arts.
2006 -The Matsumoto’s retired from the retail gallery business and moved to a small town in rural Ohio. He continued to paint and mark his work through local galleries. He was asked to join a group of wildlife artist called Masterwork for Nature.
2010 -The Florida sunshine called the Matsumoto’s back south. They lived in Buckingham, Florida to be near their grandchildren.
2013 -Ikki passed away one day before his birthday. He would have been 79. Polly continued to promote Ikki’s work up untill the day she passed in 2019.
2019 -Ikki and Polly’s daughter, Amy, inherited all rights to Ikki’s artwork and she now works to curate and promote his work for future generations to enjoy and appreciate..
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Ikki was the oldest Matsumoto son during WWII. He and his younger siblings were sent to the silk worm factories in the country, where he was in charge of keeping them all safe. He spoke about making up games to entertain the younger children and sucking on fish eyes to curb their growling bellies from hunger.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Born in Tokyo, he moved to the U.S. to study art, worked in advertising, and illustrated The Joy of Cooking before settling on Sanibel Island in 1975. There, he became a beloved painter and printmaker, known for his stylized depictions of local wildlife and tropical landscapes with a Japanese aesthetic.
Key Information
Background:
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ikki Matsumoto studied at the John Herron School of Art and the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
Early Career:
After graduating, he worked in advertising and illustrated the popular cookbook, The Joy of Cooking.
Move to Sanibel:
In 1975, he and his wife, Polly, moved to Sanibel Island, Florida, to pursue art full-time.
Artistic Style:
His work is characterized by its clean lines, airy, and easy-going colors, and often features native birds and animals.
Recognition:
He was selected by First Lady Nancy Reagan to paint an Easter Egg for a Smithsonian Museum collection.
His art is featured on his personal website, www.ikkimatsumoto.com, and in the book CAPTIVATED: The Art of Ikki Matsumoto.
His work is also part of the collective at the Tower Gallery on Sanibel Island.
Legacy:
Matsumoto is remembered for his kindness, gentle sense of humor, and his significant contribution to the arts community on Sanibel.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if I would consider it luck or good planning, but when Ikki was getting tired of the advertising world he and Polly left the kids behind and headed South to Florida in search of a new home. They started down the East coast and went all the way to Key West and back up the West coast. They found Sanibel Island just on the coast of Fort Myers that was perfect for their family. Sanibel is a barrier island that runs perpendicular to the coast, so it has excellent shelling. It is also 70 percent preserved land. There was plenty of inspiration and beauty for Ikki to pull from and a small art gallery on the island in the old schoolhouse in which to market his artwork. Luckily, many found his artwork and humor delightful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ikkimatsumoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikkimatsumotoart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtworkByIkki
Image Credits
Terry Armour
