Boston’s art lovers have a brand-new reason to visit the Museum of Fine Arts: “Naoko Matsubara’s Woodblock Worlds,” a joyful celebration of one of Japan’s most spirited printmakers, on view in the Clementine Brown Gallery through May 16, 2027.
Born in 1937 on the island of Shikoku in Japan’s Inland Sea, Matsubara grew up in Kyoto and developed a style all her own — she carves her tools directly into the woodblock, with no preliminary sketches. The result is a collection of bold, expressive prints full of color and energy, inspired by everything from nature and motherhood to music, dance, and theater.
Now in the seventh decade of her career, the exhibition follows the places that shaped her artistic journey: Kyoto, the city of her childhood; Boston, where she spent formative early years as an artist; Toronto, where she put down roots; and Tibet, a window into her boundless love of new horizons. Whether you’ve never seen a woodblock print up close or you’re a longtime fan, this show is a radiant reminder of how handmade art can light up a room — and a city.
Photo: MFA Boston
