Yayoi Kusama, renowned Japanese artist known for her dot motifs, passes away at 97, leaving behind a remarkable legacy
Kusama was known for her distinctive dot-covered paintings and pumpkin motifs, continuing to create art until the end.
A statement from her studio expressed a commitment to carrying forward her legacy of hope through art.
In 2024, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne held an extensive retrospective featuring nearly 200 works, including numerous “infinity rooms.”
Artistic legacy
The exhibition became the most visited in Australian history by April 2025, attracting over 500,000 visitors.
One installation, The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens, is part of the National Gallery of Australia’s collection and was first displayed in 2018.
Kusama’s sculpture, Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos, is displayed outside the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
Born in 1929 in Matsumoto City, Japan, she began creating art as a child, influenced by her hallucinations and anxiety.
At 27, she moved to New York, gaining recognition despite initial language barriers.
By 1962, she was exhibiting alongside artists like Andy Warhol and James Rosenquist.
Her first installation debuted in 1963 and featured phallic sculptures called Accumulations.
Kusama’s 1966 installation at the Venice Biennale displayed 1,500 mirrored balls and included a satirical sales pitch.
Years later, she represented Japan as the first solo female artist at the biennale in 1993 with an infinity room.
In 1977, she voluntarily checked into a mental hospital, continuing to create art daily.
Kusama’s battle with mental illness was expressed through her works, stating her art helped alleviate her struggles.
She acknowledged in 2017 that her hallucinations persisted, inspiring her ongoing artistic expression.
