Ted Matson

Ted Matson joined The Huntington in 2010 as co-curator of the Bonsai Collection alongside Ben Oki, and since 2015 has served as head curator of the collection. In his time at The Huntington, Ted created and teaches Bonsai Gakko—or Bonsai Academy—which is an introductory course for fine art bonsai. He also created and manages the volunteer program for the maintenance of The Huntington's Bonsai Collections and has conducted exhibitions, tours, lectures, and presentations highlighting the art of bonsai. As part of The Huntington's 2020 Centennial celebration, he curated and staged "Lifelines/Timelines: Exploring The Huntington's Collections Through Bonsai," bringing all major Huntington collections together in one special exhibition.

A bonsai hobbyist since 1979, Ted studied under top bonsai teachers, including John Naka. Encouraged by Naka and others, he started teaching bonsai at his home in Pasadena in 1988. He also began a career touring the country for demonstrations, workshops, classes, and critiques, and has appeared as a headliner and featured artist for major bonsai events throughout the U.S.

For more than 30 years, Ted served as an elected trustee and held executive positions—including president (2008-2009) and conference chairman—with the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF), the country's largest statewide association of bonsai clubs. In the mid-1980s he served many years as editor of Golden Statements and was also co-founder and committee chairman for the California Shohin Society. From 1998 to 2004, Ted served as chair of the GSBF Collection at the Huntington Committee.

Ted has received many awards for his work with bonsai, notably receiving two John Naka Awards from Descanso Bonsai Society, the Circle of Sensei Award, and both a Presidential Distinguished Service Award and Presidential Distinguished Service Diamond Award from GSBF. Another notable honor includes the selection of Ted's 7-tree Foemina juniper grove on a granite slab for photographic display in the 1999 JAL World Bonsai Contest. In February 2000, the tree was featured in an article in the Bonsai Shunju, the official publication of the Nippon Bonsai Association, and in 2015 was selected for display at the inaugural Artisan's Cup in 2015 highlighting the 75 best bonsai in America.