In the Studio: Takesada Matsutani

An inside look at how Paris-based Japanese artist Takesada Matsutani brings matter to life through the masterful manipulation of traditional and unconventional materials. 

At the heart of Takesada Matsutani’s practice is the reshaping of matter, transforming vinyl adhesive, acrylic, graphite, and oil paint into mesmerizing works that give life to his materials while challenging the fundamental nature of painting. In this guide to the artist’s life and work, learn about how Matsutani arrived at his first experiments with vinyl glue and his work as part of Japan’s influential Gutai group, his time as a printmaker in Stanley William Hayter’s studio in Paris in the 1960s, and the energetic daily studio practice that he has maintained for decades. A generous selection of archival material, studio photography, and artwork images open a window onto Matsutani’s unique process, while an informative text by curator Mika Yoshitake offers insight into his work across painting, performance, assemblage, installation, and works on paper; his wide-ranging influences, including Zen and Gutai; his half-century-long creative and personal dialogue with his wife Kate Van Houten; and the forms and materials that comprise his singular visual language. A comprehensive yet accessible account of the artist’s celebrated career, In the Studio: Takesada Matsutani is an essential resource for those looking to discover or dive further into Matsutani’s distinctive and fearless work.