Matsubara studied at the Kyoto Municipal University of Fine Arts, where she received rigorous training in traditional Japanese printmaking techniques. After graduating in 1960, she was awarded a scholarship to study abroad and moved to the United States, where she earned an MFA from Carnegie Mellon University. Soon after, she relocated to Canada, which would become her long-term home and creative base. Her time in Kyoto and North America led her to develop a highly individualistic style that combines Japanese woodcut traditions with bold, abstract, and often Western-influenced forms.
In Canada, Matsubara became known not only for her fine art prints but also for her large-scale public works. She created a monumental mural of hand-printed woodcuts for the entrance hall of the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo and produced a series of prints inspired by international cities and landscapes. Despite her global themes, Kyoto remained a recurring subject in her work—appearing in quiet temple scenes, iconic gates, and meditative compositions that reflect the harmony and discipline of Japanese aesthetics.
Matsubara's work has been exhibited in major museums including the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the National Gallery of Canada. She has received numerous accolades and honorary doctorates for her contributions to art and cultural exchange. Today, she lives and works in Ontario, bridging Kyoto and Canada and capturing both the rootedness of tradition and the dynamism of global artistic dialogue.
by KyotoGaijin