
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Edi Matsumoto is a Japan-born, California-based artist known for her realistic portraiture, whimsical sea otter creations, and a heart for healing. After nearly three decades as a nurse practitioner, she traded her stethoscope for a paintbrush, blending her love of art and caregiving into something uniquely joyful. Her "Otter Therapy" series—featuring anthropomorphized otters inspired by masterpieces, pop icons, and everyday heroes—has touched thousands with its humor, warmth, and charm.
Edi holds degrees in anthropology, nursing, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her work has earned national and international acclaim, appearing in galleries, museums, and major art publications including Fine Art Connoisseur and American Art Collector. In 2024, she opened Edi Matsumoto Art & Design, a studio-gallery nestled in the fairytale town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Learn more here
Buy her book, Otter Therapy here
By Charissa Sims5
1111 ratings
Edi Matsumoto is a Japan-born, California-based artist known for her realistic portraiture, whimsical sea otter creations, and a heart for healing. After nearly three decades as a nurse practitioner, she traded her stethoscope for a paintbrush, blending her love of art and caregiving into something uniquely joyful. Her "Otter Therapy" series—featuring anthropomorphized otters inspired by masterpieces, pop icons, and everyday heroes—has touched thousands with its humor, warmth, and charm.
Edi holds degrees in anthropology, nursing, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her work has earned national and international acclaim, appearing in galleries, museums, and major art publications including Fine Art Connoisseur and American Art Collector. In 2024, she opened Edi Matsumoto Art & Design, a studio-gallery nestled in the fairytale town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Learn more here
Buy her book, Otter Therapy here