Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, whose signature polka dots adorned paintings, sculptures, and museum installations globally, died on August 14 in Tokyo, her studio announced Thursday. She was 97.
Yayoi Kusama Studio stated that she continued to paint until her final days, always exploring "forever love and eternal soul." The studio pledged to carry forward her wishes and use art to bring hope and strength worldwide.
Kusama, recognized as one of Japan's most esteemed contemporary artists, exhibited her work internationally, with pieces featured at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Her artistic trademarks included repetitive motifs like netting, swirls, and worms, but most famously, polka dots. These appeared vibrantly on canvases and as sparkling balls or lights in her installations.
"Polka dots are fabulous," Kusama remarked in a 2012 Associated Press interview, often appearing in her characteristic orange bob wig and polka dot-covered clothing.
She stated her intention to create as many paintings as possible, saying, "I will keep painting until I die." Kusama explained that her artistic vision was a reflection of how she perceived the world, covered in spots, stemming from childhood hallucinations. She lived in and out of psychiatric institutions for decades, yet this did not impede her career, even as she was among the first Japanese women to move to New York to pursue art in 1957.
Despite a soft-spoken and shy demeanor, Kusama was unwavering in her commitment to her unique artistic style. Her approach became increasingly accessible to a wider audience over time, particularly in her later years. She collaborated with fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and lent her illustrations to various licensed products, including teacups, T-shirts, and key chains. Replicas of her likeness were also used in marketing and displays.
Her commercial success was notable, with one of her works fetching $5.8 million at a Christie's auction in 2008. In 2016, she received Japan's prestigious Order of Culture award. Upon receiving the award, Kusama expressed renewed determination to pursue her art, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and devotion in her life and artistic legacy.
Throughout her career, Kusama was described with various labels such as pop, avant-garde, and feminist, though she often felt these did not fully encompass her work. Born into a middle-class family, she felt misunderstood by her parents, who preferred she marry rather than pursue painting. This led her to leave Japan for America.
Upon her arrival in New York, the prevailing art trend was