Japanese Contemporary Art Icon Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, one of the world’s most recognisable contemporary artists, has died at the age of 97.

Kusama died at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14, according to her company. She reportedly continued painting until her final days.

Born in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama became internationally celebrated for her distinctive use of polka dots, pumpkins and mirrored spaces, creating artworks that transformed ordinary environments into immersive experiences.

Her renowned “Infinity Mirror Rooms” became a global cultural phenomenon, surrounding visitors with seemingly endless reflections, lights and patterns. Her bright yellow pumpkin sculptures, covered in black dots, also became among her most recognisable works.

Kusama’s career spanned decades and crossed painting, sculpture, installation and performance art. Her distinctive visual language and ambitious installations helped make contemporary art more accessible to audiences around the world.

Despite spending much of her later life in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo, Kusama maintained an extraordinary artistic output and continued creating new work well into her 90s.

Her influence extended far beyond galleries and museums, with her signature patterns appearing in fashion, popular culture and public art around the world.

Kusama leaves behind a remarkable artistic legacy and a body of work that reshaped how audiences experience contemporary art.