George Tsutakawa (b.1910-d.1997) was a Seattle-born artist of the ‘Northwest School’ famous for his paintings and bronze metal sculptures. His signature abstract fountain work, such as the above Joshua Green Fountain, furnish public spaces throughout the US, Canada, and Japan. In the course of his lifetime, Tsutakawa produced 75 unique fountains.

Tsutakawa, named after George Washington, lived the first seven years of his life in Washington State before relocating to Japan to live with his grandparents. After experimenting with traditional Japanese artistic practices in his youth, he returned to the States at 16 to earn his high school diploma in Seattle’s Broadway High School. It was his high school art teacher who encouraged him to continue pursuing art, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington (UW) in 1937.

Because of his U.S. citizenship, Tsutakawa was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War II while many of his family, friends, and neighbors were detained in the Japanese internment camps. After the war, Tsutakawa returned to UW to get his master's in fine arts and become a teaching artist.

Throughout the rest of his career, Tsutakawa found himself inspired by natural forms, and water while emphasizing themes of peace, unity, and humanity.

This photo from the State Library Photograph Collectionshows the Joshua Green Fountain in its original location at the Colman Dock in front of the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Seattle. The fountain was sculpted by Tsutakawa in 1966. In 2025, the fountain was restored and reinstalled on the new Waterfront Park Promenade at Columbia Street.