Ken Matsubara Japanese, b. 1948

The narrative environmental scenes painted by Ken Matsubara (b. 1948) combine natural pigments and materials on delicate washi paper, constructing immersive and multidimensional atmospheres from classical Buddhist imagery. Matsubara's works have exhibited by the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, and he won the museum's top award in 1991. Exhibitions of Matsubara's scenes have traveled throughout Japan, Europe, and the United States. His pieces are included in esteemed collections such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

1948 Born in Kamiimachi, Toyama Prefecture

Solo Exhibitions

1980        ‘Ken ‘80’, Kunugi Gallery (Tokyo)

                  Chigasaki Citizens Cultural Center (Kanagawa)

1982        Athens Gallery (Tokyo)

1984        ‘Chaos’, Kunugi Gallery (Tokyo)

1986        Sairin Gallery (Kanagawa)

1988        Gallery MOVE (Kanagawa)

                  Gallery CenterPoint (Tokyo)

                  ‘Sounds in the Air’ <Painting and Qinqin evening>, Sairin Gallery (Kanagawa)

1989        Gallery Moe (Tokyo)

1991        Ceratopia Toki Ceramic Wall Existence Commemorative Solo Exhibition / Gallery Shiranue (Gifu)

1992        Gallery Shiél (Tochigi)

                  Gallery Quattro Cats (Tochigi)

                  Gallery SICOH (Tokyo)

                  Gallery Freedom Space (Kanagawa)

                  Shinsakuramachi Gallery (Toyama)

1993        Gallery Art Robe (Tokyo)

                  Itamuro tourist hotel Daikokuya (Tochigi)

                  Gallery Hirose (Kagawa)

                  Gallery Shiēl (Tochigi)

                  Shinsakuramachi Gallery (Toyama)

1994        Gallery Kan (Fukushima)

                  Gallery Hiratsuka (Kanagawa)

                  Shinsakuramachi Gallery (Toyama)

                  Gallery SICOH (Tokyo)

1995        Gallery Freedom Space (Kanagawa)

                  Gallery Art Robe (Tokyo)

1996        ‘Ken Matsubara Solo Exhibition’, Kitanihon – Northern Japan Monthly Art (Kitanihon Shinbunsha Gallery) (Toyama)

1997        The Special Event ‘Ken Matsubara Solo Exhibition’, Shoo Museum of Arts (Okayama) Meiji-no-Yakata (Tochigi)

                  G. WING Gallery (Ishikawa)

                  Milestone . Artworks/ Shinsakuramachi Gallery (Toyama)

1998        Gallery Kan (Fukushima)

                  Sampôji Temple Hanamidō (Kanagawa)

1999        Gallery Shiranui (Gifu)

2000        Salon de Vamhou (Okayama)

                  Hotel Hilton Tokyo (Tokyo)

2001        Gallery Tas Tas (Tochigi)

                  Milestone . Artworks (Toyama)

2002        THE HOUSE VOL. 12 ‘Ken Matsubara Art Exhibition’, Office K2 (Tokyo)

2003        Salon de Vamhou & Art Garden (Okayama)

2005        ‘WABI Exhibition’, Gallery MA (Tochigi)

                  ‘WABI Exhibition’, Milestone Artworks (Toyama)

                  Gallery Tas Tas (Tochigi)

                  Gallery Chikuonki (Tochigi)

2006        ‘Ken MATSUBARA technique mixte’, Espace Culture Bertin Poirée (Paris)

                  ‘KEN MATSUBARA EXHIBITION’, Cologne Gallery TKW20 (Germany)

2007        Gallery Sho (Osaka)

                  ‘Water-Earth’, Milestone Artworks (Toyama)

2008        ‘Earth-Water’, Gallery SICOH (Tokyo)

                  Ken Matsubara ‘Shoujyou-ruten – Metempsychosis’, Museum of Modern Art (Toyama)

                  Taikōyama Furusato Gallery (Toyama)

2011        Milestone Artworks (Toyama)

                  Gallery Ueda (Tokyo)

2012        Kakiden Gallery (Tokyo)

                  Gallery Tas Tas (Tochigi)

                  Gallery Chikuonki (Tochigi)

                  ‘Byōbu Matsuri – Folding Screen Festival’, Salon de Vamhou / Naramura Gallery (Okayama)

2013        Gallery SICOH (Tokyo)

2014        ‘TAMAYURA’, GALLERY IN THE BLUE (Tochigi)

                  G. WING Gallery (Ishikawa)

2015        Ohno House (Tokyo)

                  Ginza Ippodo Gallery (Tokyo)

2016        ‘Fugaku – Mount Fuji Exhibition’, Kakiden Gallery (Tokyo)                

Ippodo Gallery New York (New York)

Salon de Vamhou (Okayama)

Gallery NOW (Okayama)

2018        ‘Scenery – Waterscape’, Kakiden Gallery (Tokyo)

2019        ‘Jitsu Getsu Kukai-zu’, Wako Hall (Tokyo)

‘KÛKAI: Sun and Moon’, Ippodo Gallery New York (New York)

2020        Genra Art (Ishikawa)

‘Jitsu Getsu Kukai-zu’, Ginza Ippodo Gallery (Tokyo)

Group Exhibitions

1973        Dokuritsu Bijyutsu exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo)

1977        Dai-ichi Bijyutsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo)

1979        Japan and France Modern Art Exhibition, Grand Palais National Museum of Art (Paris)/ Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum/ Kyoto City Museum of Art)

                  Kanagawa Prefecture Art Exhibition, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall Gallery (Kanagawa)

1987        Grand Prize Exhibition, Ueno Royal Museum (Tokyo)

                  INF International Art Exhibition (Peoples’s Republic of China / Kobe)

                  Tokyo Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo)

1988        Japanese Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, Tokishi Bunka Plaza (Gifu)

                  Japanese Contemporary Ceramics Maquette Exhibition, Tokishi Bunka Plaza (Gifu)

1989        Spanish Art Award Exhibition, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (Barcelona)

1990        Exhibition for Leading Artist of the Next Generation, Hakone Open-Air Museum (Kanagawa)

1991        Art of Toyama, Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (Toyama)

1994        Super Project ‘Kan’ by Ichrio Hosoya and Ken Matsubara, Kuroiso Cultural Hall (Tochigi)

1995        Art of Toyama ’95, The Museum of Modern Art, Toyama (Toyama)

1996        Saka no Machi Art Festival YATUO (Toyama)

1997        Japan and Korea Art Exchange Exhibition (Seoul)

1998        Performing Arts – Chikako Ogura Concert, Casals Hall (Tokyo)

                  ‘Two-person Exhibition’, Roadside station Aoki (Tochigi)

1999        Korea and Japan Painting Exchange Exhibition (Tokyo / Seoul)

                  Open Studio ART WALK ’99 (Tochigi)

                  Performing Arts – Gagaku evening (Gifu)

                  Saka no Machi Art YATUO (Toyama)

2000        ‘Three-person Exhibition’, Milestone Artworks (Toyama)

Asian Art Now, Metropolitan Gallery Las Vegas Art Museum, (Las Vegas)

Performing Arts – Terumasa Hino Quartet, Kuroiso Cultural Hall (Tochigi)

2004        Performing Arts / Katengetchi – flowers blooming in moonlight (Toyama)

2007        Ken Matsubara and his Friends, Salon de Vamhou (Okayama)

2009        Schule im Berg, Nasu Niki Club (Tochigi)

2018        ‘Two-person Exhibition/ Ken Matsubara and Toshiya Shimozawa’, Ginza Ippodo Gallery (Tokyo)

2020        ‘Two-person Exhibition’, Salon de Vamhou (Okayama)

Awards

1977        Dai-ichi Bijyutsu Award at the Dai-ichi Bijyutsu Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo)

1979        Prefectural Assembly Chairman’s Award at the Kanagawa Prefecture Art Exhibition, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall Gallery (Kanagawa)

1987        Special Award at the INF International Art Exhibition (People’s Republic of China / Kobe)

1988        Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition Award at the Japanese Contemporary Ceramics Maquette Exhibition,

                  Tokishi Bunka Plaza (Gifu)

                  Outstanding performance Award at the Japanese Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, Tokishi Bunka Plaza (Gifu)

Public Collections’

1980        “Kaku I – like burning fire I” / “Kaku 2  - like burning fire 2”, Chigasaki Cultural Center (Kanagawa)

                  “Jitsu Getsu Byōbu – sun and moon folding screen”, Fukugonji Temple (Fukui)

1987        “Chuu – Oto – sounds in the air’, Ueno Royal Museum (Tokyo)

1988        “Oto – Sounds” Tōchō – ceramic sculpture, Toki Municipal General Hospital (Gifu)

1990        “Jitsu Getsu – sun and moon” Hondō shōheki – painting on main hall barrier, Sengokuhara Chōanji Temple (Kanagawa)

1991        “Ten no koe, Chi no koe -voice of heaven, voice of the earth”, Tōheki – ceramic wall, Ceratopia Toki (Gifu)

                  “circle . triangle . square “, The Museum of Modern Art, Toyama (Toyama)

1992        “Rin – clear sound”, Headquarters of the National University Co-op. (Tokyo)

1993        “Kou – sluice” – Tōheki – ceramic wall, Utsunomiya City Shiroyama District Civic Center (Tochigi)

1994        “Yoh – Akatsuki”, Relief, Ota City Funeral Home (Gunma)

1995        “Rin – clear sound”, Kasama Inari Jinja, Sanshū-den- the gathering Hall (Ibaraki)

                  “Chuu – Oto – Sounds in the air”, Toyama City Hall (Toyama)

1996        “OTO – sounds” Relief, Aubade Hall (Toyama)

1997        “Chuu no koe – voice in the air” Relief, Kuroiso Municipal Office (Tochigi)

1999        “Kan – ring” and “Kosho – voice of trees”, Amabiki Sanraku Hôji Temple (Ibaraki)

                  “Kan -ring” Tōchō – ceramic sculpture, Tokishi Bunka Plaza (Gifu)

                  “Kou – sluice”, Satake Memorial Hall, Hiroshima University (Hiroshima)

2001        “Kosho – voice of trees”, Tono City Community Center, Aeria Tono (Iwate)

2006        “Chisho – voice of the earth”, JA Kyosai Makuhari Business Support Inc. (Chiba)

                  “Chuu – Oto – sounds in the air”, “circle . triangle . square”, “Shoku – afternoon”, and others, Soto sect Ryukokuzan Shogakuji Temple (Ibaraki)

2012        “Chisho – voice of the earth”, Nasu Res Cross Hospital (Tochigi)

2016        “Yū – evening”, Fujiyama Museum (Yamanashi)

2020        “Gengetsu – crescent moon”, Philadelphia Museum of Art (Pennsylvania)

Hotels/Corporate Artworks

1989        “Kan -ring” Object, and others Nippon Life Insurance Company (Chiba)

1992        “Oto -sounds”, KDD Golf Country Club (Tochigi)

                  “Kan – ring”, Mitsubishi Corporation, Bangkok branch (Thailand)

                  “Ei – be filled”, Art Hotel Osaka Bay Tower (Osaka)

1993        “Rin – clear sound” NTT Urban Development Otemachi 1^st Square (Tokyo)

                  “Oto – sounds” Tōban-ceramic panel, JR Hotel Clement (Tokushima)

                  “Gen Koh – dark sky and earth yellow”, Resort Trust XIV Yamanakako (Shizuoka)

                  Relief, Hotel New Otani Makuhari (Chiba)

                  “Kou – sluice” Object, Hotel Agora Regency Osaka Sakai (Osaka)

1994        “Kan – ring” Tōchō – ceramic sculpture, and others Itamuro tourist hotel Daikokuya (Tochigi)

1995        “Ran – waves”, Okura Akademia Park Hotel (Chiba)

                  “Kodama – echoes” Object, and others, Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch (Nagasaki)

                  “Yama Sandai – Three Mountain Titles”, Izu Ginsui (Shizuoka)

1996        Mural, Hotel Atollemerald Miyakojima (Okinawa)

                  Sounds, and others, Japanese Restaurant Nada Man Beijing Exhibition (Beijing)

1997        “Ten no uta Chi no uta – heavenly song and earth song” Relief, Komatsu MEC Corporation (Tochigi)

“Chuu – Oto – sounds in the air” Relief, “Chi no uta – earth song” Object, Nihon Propolis Corporation (Tokyo)

“Akari – light” Object, and others, ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel (Hokkaido)

“Koe – voice”, and others, Karatsu Seaside Hotel (Saga)

“Chou – overflowing”, Okinawa Harborview Hotel (Okinawa)

“Kan – ring” Relief, Hotel Granvia Kyoto (Kyoto)

“Chisho – voice of the earth” Object, Hotel Hamamatsucho (Tokyo)

“Shoku – afternoon”, and others, Kobe Laguna Garden Hotel (Kobe)

“Ran – waves”, Nihon Sports Academy (Nagasaki)

“Koe -voice”, Kaga Mansion (Tokyo)

1998        “Chuu – Oto – sounds in the air”, and others, Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba (Tokyo)

                  “Akari – light” Object, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (Singapore)

                  “Koe – voice”, Mural, and others ANA Intercontinental Ishigaki Resort (Okinawa)

                  “Chisho – voice of the earth” Object, Asahi Shinkin Bank

                  “Kou – sluice” Wood carving, Yomogino Ryokan (Fukushima)

1999        “Rin – clear sound” and “Ran – waves”, for all guest rooms, Hotel Okura Hakata (Fukuoka)

                  “Kosho – voice of trees” Relief, Resort Trust XIV Tateshina (Nagano)

                  “Ran – waves” for all guest rooms, Hotel Okura Tokyo (Tokyo)

                  Mural, Fusuma painting, and others, Seaside Hotel Asuka (Niigata)

2000        “Ran – waves”, and others, Sun Members Saga (Kyoto)

                  “Shiro no koe -white voice”, Atami Resorpia (Shizuoka)

                  Fuji Film Health Insurance (Shizuoka)

2001        “Koe – voice”, and others, Resort Trust XIV Naruto (Tokushima)

                  “Gen Koh – dark sky and earth yellow”, “Ran – waves”, and others UOKI CO., LTD. (Kanagawa)

                  “Kosho – voice of trees”, and others ANA Crowne Plaza Shanghai (Shanghai)

2002        Whole building artworks, Hotel Marinoa Resort Fukuoka (Fukuoka)

                  “Soh – aspect”, Komatsu Ltd. Mo-oka Factory (Tochigi)

2003        “Yoh – sunlight” LUMINE Ogikubo (Tokyo)

2004        “Jitsu Getsu – sun and moon”, Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Shiodome (Tokyo)

                  “Kou – sluice”, “Nami -waves”, and Bench, La Tour Shiodome (Tokyo)

2006        “Chisho – voice of the earth”, JA Kyosai Makuhari Business Support Inc. (Chiba)

                  “Kou – sluice”, Noble Court Hirakawacho (Tokyo)

                  Whole building artworks, Oriental Hills Okinawa (Okinawa)

                  “Kan – ring”, Gran Creer Fujigaoka (Kanagawa)

2007        “Kan – ring”, and “Oto – sounds”, KPEC (Tochigi)

2008        “Chisho – voice of the earth”, Village Kyoto (Kyoto)

2009        “Kan – ring” and “Oto – sounds”, KPEC (Tochigi)

2010        “Kodama – echoes”, La Tour Shibuya (Tokyo)

2015        “Ran – waves”, Fairmont Jakarta (Indonesia)

2016        “Gyoukou – dawn”, Minaguchiya Gallery (Shizuoka)

2018        “Kou- sluice”, Hotel Mystays Premier Sapporo Park (Hokkaido)

                  “Ran – waves”, Hakodate Kokusai Hotel (Hokkaido)

                  “Kou – sluice”, KOBELCO Mo-oka Shinko Ryo (Tochigi)

2019        “Kan – ring”, “Kei – scenery” and “Fugaku – mount Fuji”, Brillia Ichibancho Enterance Hall (Tokyo)

2020        “Chisho – voice of the earth”, Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel and Spa Ishigaki (Okinawa)