Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrated globally for her signature polka dots that adorned paintings, sculptures, and installations, died on August 14 in Tokyo, her studio announced Thursday. She was 97.
Kusama's studio stated that she continued to create art until her final days, dedicating herself to exploring themes of love and the soul. The studio has vowed to carry forward her artistic legacy and provide hope through her work. She was one of Japan's most respected contemporary artists, with her work exhibited internationally at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
Repetitive motifs, including netting, swirls, and most notably, dots, were hallmarks of her art. In a 2012 interview with the Associated Press, Kusama described polka dots as "fabulous," often appearing in her signature orange bob wig and polka-dot attire. She expressed a lifelong ambition to create as many paintings as possible, stating, "I will keep painting until I die."
Kusama explained that her art reflected her perception of the world, which she saw as covered in spots, stemming from childhood hallucinations. Despite recurring stays in psychiatric institutions, her illness did not impede her artistic pursuits. In 1957, she became one of the first Japanese women to move to New York to advance her art career.
While maintaining a soft-spoken demeanor, Kusama was unyielding in her artistic vision. In her later years, her work gained significant fame, leading to collaborations with fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and the creation of licensed products featuring her illustrations. Her work has achieved significant financial success, with one of her pieces selling for $5.8 million at Christie's in 2008. In 2016, she was awarded Japan's prestigious Order of Culture.
Upon receiving the award, Kusama spoke of her continued dedication to her art, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and devotion in her life and work. "I feel there is little left in my life, but I am now still fighting to the death for my art," she stated. "I am giving all I have so that many people will continue to be interested in my art, even after I am dead."
Kusama resisted categorization, being labeled pop, avant-garde, and feminist, yet she felt these labels did not fully represent her art. Born into a middle-class family, she felt misunderstood by her parents, who favored traditional Japanese life over her artistic aspirations. This led her to leave for America.
Upon her arrival in New York, the prevailing art movement was "action painting," which contrasted with her dot-based style. She endured years of poverty and obscurity but persisted with her distinctive motif. In the late 1960s, she organized