Artist Yayoi Kusama, known for polka dot creations, dies aged 97
Renowned avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama has passed away at the age of 97 in Tokyo. Known for her iconic polka dot patterns and immersive infinity rooms, she leaves behind a legacy of influential contemporary art.
Why it matters
Kusama was a globally significant figure in modern art, and her death marks the end of a career that bridged traditional painting and immersive installation art.
Avant-garde Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her distinctive vibrant polka dot creations, has died at the age of 97.
She was also well known for her pumpkins, which were a signature of her art from the 1940s onwards, and her infinity room mirrors.
A statement from her company and studio on Thursday said: "It is with profound sorrow that the passing of Yayoi Kusama, at a hospital in Tokyo on 14 August 2026, at the age of 97.
"Throughout an extraordinary lifetime devoted entirely to artistic creation, Kusama pursued an internationally acclaimed career as a pioneering avant-garde artist whose creative practice encompassed visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry.
"She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul.
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