Takesada Matsutani initially aspired to Japanese painting but later shifted his interest to contemporary art. Starting in 1960, he began exhibiting his works in Gutai art exhibitions and officially became a member of the Gutai Art Association in 1963. In the mid-term of Gutai, Takesada Matsutani, along with Shuji Mukai and Tsuyoshi Maekawa, were collectively referred to as the "3M" and became active core members of the second generation of Gutai.

Matsutani opted for Elmer’s glue, a versatile adhesive developed soon after the war, as his primary medium and developed his own style. The glossy and sticky texture of the adhesive, combined with its ability to form organic and sensual shapes, captivated attention as a new and unique possibility in the realm of painting. This artistic approach suggested previously unexplored possibilities.

In 1966, Matsutani moved to France and pursued professional studies in printmaking at the workshop of Stanley William Hayter. Later, he independently produced a series of prints based on photographs. In the late 1970s, he started using black pencils for drawing, and after the 1980s, he reintroduced Elmer’s glue into his creative process, combining it with black pencils for his creations. In June 2019, he presented a solo exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou.