Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama has died at the age of 97, just weeks before the highly anticipated opening of her exhibition in Amsterdam. The news of her passing was confirmed by Tokyo’s Seiwa Hospital, where she had been receiving care.
A Lifetime of Dots, Pumpkins and Infinity Mirrors
Over her seven-decade career, Kusama transformed simple motifs—polka dots, pumpkins and mirrored rooms—into immersive experiences that captivated audiences worldwide. After studying traditional Japanese painting, she moved to New York in 1958, where she pioneered happenings and installation art, confronting themes of infinity and self-obliteration.
Despite early setbacks and struggles with mental health, Kusama’s bold vision gained traction in the 1960s art scene. Her “Infinity Mirror Rooms” became signature works, inviting visitors into endless reflections of light and color. In later years she achieved record auction prices, collaborated with fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and retained a devoted global following.
Last Exhibition Cut Short
The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam was set to unveil “Love Forever: Yayoi Kusama in the Netherlands” this September, tracing her impact on contemporary art through paintings, sculptures and immersive installations. Museum directors have expressed their sorrow and intend to proceed with the show as a tribute to her enduring spirit.
Kusama’s legacy extends beyond her art. A committed advocate for mental health awareness, she voluntarily entered psychiatric care in Tokyo in the 1970s and continued to create prolifically from there. She once said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time,” words that resonate even more strongly today.
Survived by a vast body of work housed in major institutions—from Tate Modern to the Hirshhorn Museum—Yayoi Kusama leaves behind an artistic universe that will continue to inspire and mesmerize generations to come.