Yayoi Kusama, Iconic Artist Known for Polka Dots, Dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the visionary Japanese artist whose distinctive polka dots and immersive "Infinity Mirror Rooms" captivated the world, has died at the age of 97. Her passing occurred on August 14 in Tokyo, with the announcement made on August 27 by her foundation.

Born in 1929 in Nagano, Kusama began developing her signature motifs of dots and nets at a young age, using them as a way to cope with personal anxieties. After studying painting in Kyoto, she moved to the United States in 1957, settling in New York. For sixteen years, she was a prominent figure in the avant-garde art scene, organizing public "happenings" and even launching a fashion line, all while facing financial hardship.

Kusama returned to Japan in 1973 and voluntarily resided in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo, continuing her artistic output well into her later years. While commercial success arrived later in her career, particularly from the 1990s onwards with her iconic pumpkin sculptures and "Infinity Mirror Rooms," her work achieved global phenomenon status, amplified by social media.

Recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in 2016, Kusama's art commanded high prices, with one "infinity net" selling for nearly eight million dollars in 2019. Known for her fiery red wig and polka-dot attire, she was also a vocal critic of Japan's treatment of women. A museum dedicated to her work opened in Tokyo in 2017, fulfilling her wish that her legacy of "bright future, the beauty of love and my soul" would be passed on.

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My desire is that the bright future, the beauty of love and my soul will be passed on. Love my works, even after my death.