Yayoi Kusama, the celebrated Japanese artist known around the world for her vibrant polka dots and immersive mirror installations, has died at the age of 97. Her studio announced that she passed away in a Tokyo hospital on August 14.
Kusama was one of the most popular and influential modern artists of her generation. Instantly recognisable by her bright red bob wig and bold creative vision, she worked across painting, sculpture, performance, and poetry for over seven decades. She continued to paint every day in her studio until her final days.
Born in Matsumoto, Japan, in 1929, Kusama had a difficult childhood and experienced vivid hallucinations of flowers and repeating patterns covering everything around her. Drawing became her way to process these experiences. In 1958, she moved to New York City, where she gained international attention for her "infinity net" paintings—large canvases covered in continuous fields of small painted dots.
During the 1960s, Kusama became a pioneering figure in the avant-garde art movement, creating "soft sculptures" and organizing public art events. After returning to Japan in the 1970s, she faced mental health struggles. In 1977, she voluntarily entered a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo, where she chose to reside permanently while working daily in her nearby art studio.
Global fame reached new heights later in her life. Her mirrored rooms and iconic pumpkin sculptures drew millions of visitors worldwide, becoming major cultural highlights in the era of social media. Her studio stated that her artistic legacy will continue to bring hope and strength to people across the world.