Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the internationally renowned Japanese artist celebrated for her iconic polka dots, has died at the age of 97, her studio announced Thursday.

“

Polka dots are fabulous.

Kusama passed away on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital. Her studio stated that she continued to paint until her final days, driven by a pursuit of "forever love and eternal soul." The studio pledged to carry forward her legacy, using art to bring hope and strength to people worldwide.

Considered one of Japan's most respected contemporary artists, Kusama's work, characterized by repetitive motifs like netting, swirls, and most famously, dots, was exhibited globally. Her art graced institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Kusama often described her art as a reflection of how she saw the world, covered in spots, stemming from hallucinations she experienced since childhood.

“

I want to create a thousand paintings, maybe two thousand paintings, as many as I can draw.

Despite her lifelong struggles with mental health, which led to decades of psychiatric treatment, Kusama was a pioneer, becoming one of the first Japanese women to move to New York in 1957 to pursue her artistic career. Though described as soft-spoken and shy, she was bold in her artistic vision, consistently applying her dot motif and making her art accessible to a broad audience.

“

I will keep painting until I die.

In her later years, Kusama achieved significant fame and commercial success. She collaborated with luxury fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and licensed her designs for various products. Her work commanded high prices at auction, and in 2016, she received Japan's most prestigious award for artists, the Order of Culture. Upon receiving the award, she expressed her determination to continue her art, emphasizing sincerity and devotion as crucial elements of her artistic legacy, stating, "I am giving all I have so that many people will continue to be interested in my art, even after I am dead."

“

I feel there is little left in my life, but I am now still fighting to the death for my art.