Tsuruko Yamazaki was born in Ashiya-city, Hyogo. While studying at the Obayashi Sacred Heart School in 1946, Yamazaki became acquainted with the founder of the Gutai Art Association, Jiro Yoshihara. In 1948, Yamazaki presented her work at the 1st Ashiya City Exhibition. She is one of the few members of the Gutai group involved with the movement from its establishment to its dissolution. After working with the Gutai Art Association, fellow artist Masunobu Yoshimura invited her to join the ‘Artist Union' group. Yamazaki is known for her paintings with vivid colours and strips and sculptural works made of tin cans painted in fluorescent hues. She attracted attention with her large-scale installation titled Red at the Gutai's One-Day Outdoor Exhibition (1956). This installation featured a mosquito net, allowing viewers to enter and fully engage with the piece. This piece was an early example of interactive art that is still relevant in the art world today. From the 1980s onward, Yamazaki was active as a freelancer. Her works have been exhibited in Japan and internationally in countries like Germany, France, Belgium, and Spain.