Artist Yayoi Kusama, known for polka dots, dies at 97
Internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrated for her signature polka dot motifs, has died at the age of 97. Her studio announced her passing on Thursday.
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who became globally recognized for her prolific use of polka dots across paintings, sculptures, and immersive installations, has died. Her studio confirmed her death on Thursday. Kusama was 97 years old.
Kusama passed away on August 14 in Tokyo, according to her studio, Yayoi Kusama Studio, which did not disclose the cause of death. The studio stated that Kusama continued to create art until her final days.
Considered one of Japan's most significant contemporary artists, Kusama's work was widely exhibited in major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. Her signature style featured repetitive motifs like netting, swirls, or worms, but most famously, dots, which adorned her canvases and appeared in vibrant, psychedelic installations.
Kusama often spoke of her art as a reflection of her perception of the world, which she saw as covered in spots, stemming from childhood hallucinations. Despite periods spent in psychiatric care, she pursued her artistic vision with determination. She was among the first Japanese women to move to New York in 1957 to advance her art career. While known for her shyness, she was bold in asserting her unique style, maintaining it for decades and making it accessible to a broad audience. In her later years, she gained significant international fame, collaborating with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.
Kusama herself found it challenging to categorize her art, often brushing off labels like pop, avant-garde, or feminist. Born into a middle-class family, she felt misunderstood by parents who desired a traditional path for her. She moved to New York during the era of action painting but remained committed to her dot motif. After years of poverty and obscurity, her work eventually garnered global acclaim and significant commercial success, including record-breaking auction prices. In 2016, she received Japan's prestigious Order of Culture award.