Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese avant-garde artist globally celebrated for her polka-dot paintings, pumpkin sculptures, and immersive mirror rooms, has died at the age of 97. According to an announcement from her foundation, Kusama passed away from multiple organ failure at a Tokyo hospital on August 14.
Throughout a career spanning more than 60 years, the artist established herself as a trailblazer in contemporary art. Her vibrant and obsessive patterns drew massive crowds worldwide, while her paintings commanded millions of dollars at auctions.
Early Life, New York Years, and the Roots of Her Art
Born in Nagano Prefecture in March 1929 as the youngest daughter of a wealthy family, Kusama began producing her signature dot and net patterns at the age of 10. From a young age, she experienced persistent hallucinations that featured flashing lights, dots, and flowers.
Frustrated by the conservative and confining nature of Japanese society at the time, Kusama moved to the United States in 1957 after studying painting at an art school in Kyoto. Settling in New York at the age of 27, she quickly made a name for herself by releasing large-scale paintings, soft sculptures, and staging performances. During the turbulent 1960s, she also wrote fiction and poetry, took part in anti-war activities, and reportedly influenced artists such as Andy Warhol.
Mental Health Struggles and Return to Japan
Despite her creative output and rising prominence in New York’s art scene, Kusama remained candid about her mental health struggles. She noted that the intense pace and environment of New York exacerbated her neuroses. Around 1977, a few years after returning to Japan permanently in 1973, she voluntarily admitted herself to a mental hospital in Tokyo. She lived there for decades, choosing to reside in the facility while being driven to her nearby studio each morning to paint.
“I still see hallucinations even now,” Kusama said in 2017.
“Dots come flying everywhere – on my dress, the floor, things I’m carrying, throughout the house, the ceiling. And I paint them.”
Yayoi Kusama, via CNA Lifestyle
Her persistent daily studio practice continued right up to her final days. A statement released by her company noted that she never set aside her brush, maintaining an unwavering dedication to artistic creation centered on eternal love and soul.
Global Stardom and the Phenomenon of Infinity Mirror Rooms
In recent decades, Kusama’s immersive installations catapulted her into a distinct tier of global pop-culture celebrity. Her distinctive personal style—frequently featuring a bright red or colored wig, bold spotted outfits, and matching patterns—earned her the affectionate title of the polka dot queen
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Her commercial footprint extended far beyond traditional galleries.
Legacy and Honors in Tokyo
Throughout her lifetime, Kusama received prominent recognition for her contributions to culture. In 2006, the Japanese government awarded her the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. Ten years later, TIME magazine named her to its 2016 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Cementing her permanent connection to her home city, she opened her own dedicated museum in 2017 in a neighborhood close to her residence in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward according to arts coverage.
Her company emphasized that her overarching mission would outlive her.
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