Kiyoko Matsuoka

Kiyoko Matsuoka graduated from the Joshibi University of Art and Design, majoring in Art History and later with a Master’s Degree from Chiba University on the History of Art Education in Japan. Since 1986, she is a curator at the Itabashi Art Museum. In 1989, she became responsible for the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition in Japan and has collaborated with BCBF ever since. Kiyoko curated several exhibitions on picture book artists, such as Leo Lionni, Dick Bruna, Bruno Munari and the publishing house Tara Books. She has organised various events and workshops for young artists in the creation of picture books. In recent years, she has been involved in inclusive activities through ‘Tactile picture books’. Currently director of the Itabashi Art Museum, she is an important driving force behind Itabashi's Picture Book Town policy. She has juried many shows such as the BIB exhibition and the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition. She was an EC member of IBBY from 2010 to 2014 and is a board member of JBBY, the Japanese section of IBBY.