Japanese polka dot artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

Share Save Add as preferred on Google Kurumi Mori , Tokyo correspondent and Harry Sekulich Reuters Polka dots, pumpkins and infinity room mirrors are hallmarks of Kusama's artistry Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, who became famous for her colourful polka dot-covered sculptures and installations, has died at the age of 97.

Kusama, who had voluntarily lived in a psychiatric hospital for decades, was known for her bright red wig and her giant, quirky creations.

Her exhibitions drew large crowds around the world, and her vibrant works fetched some of the highest ever prices for a female artist.

A statement from her company said: "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."

Kusama died at a hospital in Tokyo on 14 August, the statement said.