Madeline Chu '27
May 9, 2025
Yuma Matsuo ’25, a talented visual arts student at Mercersburg Academy, has recently announced his enrollment at Tufts University to pursue a degree in interdisciplinary arts.
Sydney Caretti, art faculty member and Matsuo’s teacher, described him as someone who “works really hard to complete whatever he envisions.” Whether that means having a piece featured at the selective Wilson College juried art show or creating his beautiful senior project, Caretti noted that “Yuma really is about living and breathing as an artist.” Caretti also described Matsuo as “coachable”and “hungry to learn.”
She expressed her excitement about Yuma’s upcoming journey at Tufts’ School of the Museum of Fine Arts: “He’s already showing talent at the collegiate level,” adding, “Yuma is someone who is ready to take on new challenges and stretches himself,” Caretti said.
Arts Department Head Kristen Pixler concerred, adding, “He makes deeper connections to the meaning behind his work and along with his technical abilities he has confidence and voice as an artist.”
Matsuo reflected on his artistic journey since arriving at Mercersburg, saying, “The arts faculty were amazing and I especially enjoyed how you can incorporate art in other classes’ work.” He referenced his current English project, where he is creating an illustration that correlates with the short story he is writing. He also mentioned Blue Review, Mercersburg's student literary and art magazine, as “another opportunity for artists.”
In particular, Matsuo cites his senior capstone class, Arts Practicum, as something that has inspired him to “take art beyond the classroom.” He created paintings and illustrations of memories from his life blended with a surrealist element. Matsuo said that, through his addition of flying sea creatures, he “[hopes] to create the feeling of how the world can feel magical to you if you have little memories.” Pixler described his work as, “nostalgic with fantasy and lovely that he’s creating these new stories off his own story.”
He highly recommended the Arts Practicum class, highlighting how has been to “see people’s works and process in real time.” Matsuo compared it to an “art city” and noted his appreciation for the tight-knit community. He also commended Pixler’s teaching and organizing role in the class. “She is doing a very nice job pulling everyone’s big art projects together into one class,” he said. “I admire her experience and how much time of her life she puts into art, studying, and teaching.”
Matsuo described the process of creating a portfolio for his college applications, comparing it to a “big research project.” He noted the extensive time it took, as artists must demonstrate their ability to create “lives, figures, drawings, and stills.”
Matsuo discussed his choice of Tufts, citing its exceptional interdisciplinary arts program. He is looking forward to the artistic freedom given through its experimental take on the traditional art curriculum.