Michiko Matsumoto facts for kids

Michiko Matsumoto (松本 路子, Matsumoto Michiko, born 1950) is a famous Japanese photographer. She is known for her pictures of the ūman ribu, which is the women's liberation movement. This movement was about women working for equal rights and freedom.

About Michiko Matsumoto

Michiko Matsumoto was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, in 1950. She studied at Hosei University in Tokyo and graduated in 1974.

In the early 1970s, Michiko started taking photos at meetings for women's liberation. She wanted to show the energy and spirit of these events. In 1978, she published a book of these photos called Women Come Alive.

Later in the 1970s, she traveled to cities like New York and Paris. There, she photographed many important feminists, artists, and dancers. Michiko wanted her photos to show women's bodies in a different way than what was often seen in magazines and on TV. She aimed to show community and strength.

Michiko Matsumoto has published 13 books of her photography. Her artworks are displayed in museums around the world. Today, she lives and works in Tokyo.

Where Her Art Is Shown

Michiko Matsumoto has had many art shows, both by herself and with other artists. Her photos have been displayed in galleries and museums in Japan, the United States, and Europe.

Solo Exhibitions

Some of her solo shows include:

• "Yoko Ono in New York" in Tokyo (1974)
• "Women Come Alive" in Tokyo (1978)
• "Portraits of New York Women" in Tokyo and Sapporo (1983)
• "Portraits ~ Women Artists" in New York, U.S.A. (1988)
• "Dancers" in Tokyo (1998)
• "Homage to Niki de Saint Phalle" in Tokyo and Kyoto (2002)
• "Portraits" at The Museum of Contemporary Art Karuizawa (2016)

Group Exhibitions

She has also been part of many group shows, such as:

• "Contemporary Japanese Photography" which toured Europe (1987)
• "Women Photographers from Japan" which toured the U.S.A. (1998-2000)
• "Works from the Photographic Art in Japan" in Shanghai, China (2007)
• "Human Images of 20th Century" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography (2010)

Art in Public Collections

Michiko Matsumoto's photographs are part of the permanent collections in several important museums. This means her art is kept there for people to see for a long time.

Some of these places include:

• Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo
• Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris
• Museum of Liberty Osaka, Osaka
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• The Museum of Contemporary Art Karuizawa, Nagano