Takeshi Kawashima was born in Takamatsu, Kagawa in 1930. After graduated from Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu Kogei High School, Kawashima moved to Tokyo and attended Musashino Art School (currently Musashino Art University) Kawashima moved to New York in 1963 and studied at the Art Students League. While still a student, he earned wide recognition through an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Kawashima continued to work in his studio in Soho, New York. He relocated back to Takamatsu in February 2016.

His works belong to the permanent collections of many notable art museums both in Japan and abroad, including MoMA, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Ohara Museum of Art, and the National Museums of Modern Art in both Tokyo and Kyoto.

In 2006, Kawashima’s solo exhibition in the Mitchell Algus Gallery in Chelsea, New York was featured on the first page of the New York Times art section.
From 2005 to 2009, he participated in the redevelopment project for Takamatsu’s Marugame-machi shopping district, designing such areas as the dome-topped square at the north end and the bicycle paths.
Kawashima was a guest artist in the Seto no Miyako Takamatsu Stone Sculpture Triennale in 2009 and a participating artist in the 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 Setouchi Triennale, a contemporary art festival.
In 2010, he received the Commendation of Cultural Merit from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for his contributions to regional culture.
In 2017, in addition to the installation of The 41st “Zenkoku Ikujusai” national tree festival, he established Takeshi Kawashima Art Factory Foundation.
In 2020, “Takeshi Kawashima – I’m glad” Exhibition, at Nakazu Banshoen /Marugame Museum in Kagawa.
In 2021, “Takaeshi Kawashima Suggestive Forms 1967–1975” exhibition at Pazo Fine Art, MD, USA.
In 2023 Apr. 29-Aug.6 “Takeshi Kawashima Exhibition” at Municipal Kuma Museum, Ehime.
Kawashima currently lives in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan.