Arts + Culture


Remembering Ikki’s Island

For the first time, a book details the art and life of local legend Ikki Matsumoto.

BY December 1, 2020

No artist has captured the natural beauty of Southwest Florida quite like the late Ikki Matsumoto, whose whimsical, nature-inspired paintings and silkscreens brighten the homes of collectors locally and abroad.

Sanibel resident and Matsumoto fan Steve Saari approached Matsumoto late wife, Polly, and their daughter, Amy, in 2016 with one question: “Why isn’t there a book of Ikki’s work?” He didn’t understand why no one had chronicled the work of such a prolific and beloved artist.

Together, the trio gathered an archive of prints by asking online fans to submit images of their original Matsumoto works. The result is this 156-page coffee-table book with 119 prints (including his well-known acrylic paintings of sandpipers and anhingas, posters for nonprofits like BIG ARTS and vibrant silkscreens), along with personal photos and stories that encompass his oeuvre and life on Sanibel and Captiva throughout nearly 38 years. The publishing company printed 1,000 copies of the book, and 78 special editions that include a clamshell case and a poster. Available through December at 2 Islands Gallery on Captiva and at ikkimatsumoto.com. From $80, Sandpiper Press.  

 

Photos Courtesy Amy Matsumoto Urich (2)

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