Avant-garde polka dot artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, renowned for her iconic polka dot paintings and colossal pumpkin sculptures, has passed away at the age of 97. The artist, who spent her life devoted to creative expression, passed away at a Tokyo hospital on August 14, 2026.

Throughout her career, Kusama's work encompassed a diverse range of mediums, including painting, performance, literature, and fashion. She continued to create until her final days, consistently exploring themes of eternal love and the soul. Her most famous pieces, such as the immersive infinity room mirrors and her signature polka dot patterns, have been exhibited at prestigious institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Tate Modern.

Kusama's career began when she moved to New York in 1957, becoming one of the first Japanese women to pursue her art internationally. She was a close friend of influential artists such as Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Joseph Cornell, who admired her innovative approach to art. Her work was showcased in numerous galleries and museums around the world, cementing her status as a groundbreaking artist.

One of Kusama's most monumental works, Infinite Accumulation, a 12-meter-wide silver sphere installation, was commissioned for display outside London's Liverpool Street station. Despite spending decades in psychiatric institutions, Kusama's distinctive orange bob wig and her unwavering dedication to art made her an enduring figure in the art world. Her final commissioned piece, Untitled (Nets), set a record for her work, selling for 10.5 million dollars at Phillips New York in 2022.