A Life Well Spent on Sanibel: Ikki Matsumoto

The end of December also brought with it the end of the earthly presence of one of Sanibel's most beloved residents: Artist Extraordinaire, Ikki Matsumoto.

His art work was appreciated and known throughout the world.  He was commissioned in 1972 to illustrate The Joy of Cooking, one of the most widely published U.S. cookbooks. First Lady Nancy Reagan later chose him to paint a White House Easter egg in 1985.

A quiet man , Matsumoto made a dramatic impact on the Sanibel art scene.

In 1987, Ikki Matsumoto and his wife, Polly,  moved an old house on Sanibel Island from the beach to Tarpon Bay Road and transformed it into their very first gallery.  Matsumoto stayed at home and created remarkable works of  art with Polly representing him.

He produced beautiful, stylized works about nature that made people smile and brightened up their day. His style was often reflective of the art created in Japan, his country of birth, as well as reflective of his gentle sense of humor.

It is easy to pick out a Matsumoto print, often one rejoicing in wild life.  The graceful Whooping Crane with one leg lifted, a whimsical black cat with feathers in its mouth, the touching first swim of mother and baby dolphin, the plump pelican squatting in Ding Darling, all beautiful prints to be cherished and admired are among the dozens of works produced by Ikki Matsumoto during his life on the Island.

The Matsumotos also played an integral role in the formation of BIG ARTS in the late 1970s, donating his designs for T-shirts, hats, and prints. People came from all over the world to ask where they could purchase his work. He helped jump start the art scene on Sanibel, not just in BIG ARTS but across the island.

According to Executive Director of Big Arts,  Lee Ellen Harder:   "The community loved his art work. When you thought of arts on Sanibel, you thought of Ikki Matsumoto. We are going to miss him."

And so will we all.