- 1942
- Born in Sumiyoshi district, Osaka.
- 1963
- Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Naniwa College (later renamed to Osaka University of Arts Junior College). Matsuda often showed his Kinetic artworks, at the gallery Ano where was located in the neighborhood of the Gutai Pinacotheca. In this year, Matsuda met Jiro Yoshihara.
- 1964
- Solo Exhibition was held at gallery Ano.
- 1966
- At the 19th Ashiya City Art Exhibition (Ashiya Civic Center), Matsuda received the mayor award. He also received an honorable mention at the 10th Shell Art Competition (Shirakiya, Tokyo). In the same year, his work was included in the 17th Gutai Art Exhibition (Takashimaya Department Store 8th Floor Hall, Yokohama). Hereafter, Matsuda involved his work in the consequence Gutai Art Exhibitions until the break-up of the group.
- 1967
- Exhibition New Face of Gutai (held at the Gutai Pinacotheca, Osaka). Received second prize at the 2nd Mainichi Art Competition (Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art). Became a member of the Gutai group. (remained until dissolution of the group).
- 1968
- Received the Nagaoka Museum of Contemporary Art Prize at the 8th Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum). Married Masako Okamoto who was Matsuda's classmate from Naniwa College. Received a board of Education Award at the 21st Ashiya City Art Exhibition (Ashiya Civic Center). Became a member of Ashiya City Art Association.
- 1970
- Participated in the Japan Expo' 70 for the Gutai's collective installation Garden on Garden and the Gutai Group Exhibition (Midorikan Entrance Hall).
- 1972
- The Gutai group disbanded. From then, Matsuda began making kinetic artworks with more complexity.
- 1982
- Solo Exhibition was held at Atelier Nishinomiya.
- 1984
- Founded Bunsei Dojo: Gallery Do (Namba, Osaka). The facility had an art class and tutoring class in addition to a gallery space.
- 1986
- Became a member of the Sculpture Session of the Sakai Art Association.
- 1987
- Became a member of the Osaka Sculpture Council.
- 1988
- Solo Exhibition World of Yutaka Matsuda: Part I,II,III (Gallery Do)
- 1989
- Received a prize for excellence at the '89 IBM Picture and Illustration Concour (ABC gallery, Osaka) and the Best Work prize at the Exhibition of Wakayama Grand Prix of Western Painting 100.
- 1990
- Received a prize for excellence at the 12th Exhibition of Modern Best Art in 1990. (Emba Museum of Chinese Modern Art).
- 1991
- Solo Exhibition Yutaka Matsuda: Kinetic Art Exhibition (ABC gallery)
- 1998
- Suddenly died due to liver cancer.
- 2004
- Exhibition Gutai Retrospective: 50 years Anniversary (Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art)
- 2012
- Exhibition Gutai: The Spirit of an Era (The National Art Center, Tokyo).
- 2013
- Exhibition Gutai: Splendid Playground at the Guggenheim Museum (NewYork).