Tsutakawa was born on George Washington's birthday and was therefore named George. At age 7 he was sent to live in Japan and this strongly influenced his aesthetic which blends eastern and western ideas and forms. He returned to Seattle in 1927 when he decided to become an artist. He studied under Alexander Archipenko and became friends with Mark Tobey and Morris Graves. When WWII began he was drafted and his family business was confiscated. After the war he returned to school and his art career. He created over 60 fountains in North America and Japan during his career. He taught at the University of Washington from 1947-1976 when he retired.