Partners in Art is proud to support LIFTS’ project I AM THE ART; NOBUO KUBOTA, a feature-length documentary currently in production. This project features Nobuo Kubota and is produced and directed by Annette Mangaard. This film will be available for screenings after June 2025.

This documentary explores the life and artistic journey of 92-year-old Nobuo Kubota, a renowned Japanese-Canadian artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, sound, music, installation, and film. With a unique fusion of Eastern and Western influences, his art reflects a deep engagement with Zen, Shintoism, and experimental avant-garde practices. The film also highlights Kubota’s personal resilience as he cared for his wife, Lee, who had Alzheimer’s while continuing his creative practice. Through a generational lens, Annette Mangaard, filmmaker and former student of Kubota, this documentary reflects on the lessons learned from his unwavering dedication to art and life, offering an inspiring story of creativity, wisdom, and the human spirit’s enduring strength.