Takesada Matsutani was born in Osaka in 1937. He contracted tuberculosis when he was fourteen and he fought the disease for eight years until he was twenty-two. For a period of time he was able to study classic Nihonga painting. In 1963, he joined Gutai (the Gutai Art Association), a group of artists who led the post war Japanese avant-garde art, and he began producing relief works using vinyl adhesive. In 1966 he moved to France, based in Paris, he began printmaking. In due course, he broke new ground with works formed from vinyl adhesive and covered with graphite pencil strokes. Even at the age of 87, Matsutani continues to work vigorously in Paris, demonstrating his vitality through his installations and performances.