I have the same problem as this thread, where Matlab can't render the fonts in figures, but can get the fonts right everywhere else on the desktop. I think the desktop fonts are handled by Java, but the figures are done with X. (I'm making a new thread since that one is closed).

The OP in that thread solved his problem by reverting to 10.10, installing matlab, then upgrading to 11.04. Can they or someone else tell me where there fonts are stored? My current font path from running

Code:
xset q
is:

Code:
Font Path:
  /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,built-ins
My bet is that's where the problem is. I have reported this to The Mathworks. They told me to wait for a new release.