LYNN MATSUOKA

LYNN MATSUOKA is internationally known for her drawings & paintings of Japan’s ancient arts of Sumo and Kabuki, as performed today. She has also garnered the Hawaii Publisher’s Association First Prize for Illustration for her powerful paintings of Hawaii’s hula dancers.

Matsuoka, a New York native, studied music and art at Temple University in Philadelphia and graduated with a BFA Degree. She went on to study graduate drawing at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan with famed artist Jack Potter.

Her work so captures the essence of the subject matter that print and broadcast media have used her art reportage skills repeatedly to enhance their publications and broadcasts. As a court reportage artist for ABC and CBS network news, she covered many court trials, most notably as a court illustrator for the Watergate hearings. Legendary designer and artist MILTON GLASER says Lynn Matsuoka is "probably the greatest living reportage artist."

In Manhattan, Matsuoka started her career as a fashion illustrator for major department stores and covered fashion shows in New York and Tokyo for Vogue magazine and Women’s Wear Daily. Her illustrations have also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Time, Business Week as well as other publications.

When invited to Tokyo to be a fashion illustrator for a major Japanese department store, she discovered Sumo and devoted a large part of her focus to the sport. She’s spent decades documenting the tournaments, the practice ring, and the rural and international tours. Matsuoka has also intensively covered the world of Kabuki. From behind the scenes she captures the spirit of the actors in intimate detail. The artist has covered Yankees Spring trainings and works with Equestrian events.

JACK CANFIELD, NY Times best selling author of The Success Principles and co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul says of artist Lynn Matsuoka,"Your work is quite extraordinary."

Matsuoka lives and works in the Hamptons, NY, where she has turned her considerable talent to raising funds for endangered species through her adult coloring book, SAVING OUR SEABIRDS.