![George Tsutakawa, 1910-1997 (Seattle), Rocks and Waves, 1987, oil on board, 22.5”h x 54”w, Private Collection, photo by John Pai](https://www.biartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tsutakawa_George_Rocks-and-Waves1954_DSC_0708_ADJ-2560x842.jpg)
George Tsutakawa: Language of Nature
Past Exhibition
BIMA honors Seattle native and master artist George Tsutakawa (1910 – 1997) with a major showing of his work, refreshing his legacy for the next generation of Pacific Northwesterners. A regional and international icon, his last major retrospective was produced by Bellevue Arts Museum, with a book by the University of Washington Press in 1990. We are excited to bring his work back to the forefront. This retrospective focuses on Tsutakawa’s work from 1950 forward and features sculptures, paintings, drawings, and lamps from family, private, and regional art museum collections — including one working fountain. An exhibition catalogue is available through the BIMA Store.
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![George Tsutakawa, 1910-1997 (Seattle), Eternal Laughter, 1966, bronze, 20”h x 25”w x 9"d, Private Collection, photo by John Pai](https://www.biartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tsutakawa_George_EternalLaughter1966_DSC_1163_ADJ-1024x683.jpg)
![George Tsutakawa, 1910-1997 (Seattle), Rocks and Waves, 1987, oil on board, 22.5”h x 54”w, Private Collection, photo by John Pai](https://www.biartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tsutakawa_George_Rocks-and-Waves1954_DSC_0708_ADJ-1024x337.jpg)
![George Tsutakawa, 1910-1997 (Seattle), Leaning #2, 1987, sumi on paper, 33”h x 33”w, Tsutakawa Family Collection, photo by John Pai](https://www.biartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tsutakawa_George_DSC_0303_ADJ-1020x1024.jpg)
![George Tsutakawa, 1910-1997 (Seattle), Votive #2, 1977, bronze on wood base, 44”h x 14”w x 13"d, Tsutakawa Family Collection, photo by John Pai](https://www.biartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tsutakawa_George_Votive2_1977_DSC_1237_ADJ-683x1024.jpg)
![George Tsutakawa, 1910-1997 (Seattle), Tree Force, 1986, sumi on paper, 33”h x 33”w, Tsutakawa Family Collection, photo by John Pai](https://www.biartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tsutakawa_George_TreeForce1988_DSC_0309_ADJ-1003x1024.jpg)
“George’s demeanor as my initial sculpture instructor was humble and touchable. As his student, he educated me to realize and visualize the beauty and strength of simple and abstract three-dimensional forms, for which my present work would agree.”
– Patti Warashina, Artist, and former student of George Tsutakawa
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