Waichi Tsutaka was born in Osaka in 1911 and started painting in his late 20s. After the Second World War he began exhibiting his work in group exhibitions and his subject matter was focussed on the ruins of war.

From around 1952 however he changed to painting abstract work incorporating abstract shapes and poised lines, combined with bold colour. He did not join any particular art movement, however he joined some small artist societies including Gendai bijutsu kondankai (Contemporary Art Discussion Group), known as “Genbi”, which was established by artists Jiro Yoshihara and Kokuta Suda and others in 1952 in order for artists to discuss ideas freely regardless of their associations with any particularly school or movement.

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