From the archives: Yayoi Kusama, the princess of polka dots
Yayoi Kusama, one of Japan's most celebrated artists, renowned for her signature polka dots that covered paintings, sculptures, and human bodies, died in Tokyo on Aug. 14, 2026, at age 97. In this "Sunday Morning" profile that originally aired Sept. 16, 2012, correspondent Mo Rocca talked with Kusama about her love of creating art, and her lifelong obsession with dots (which she attributed to…
Yayoi Kusama, a celebrated Japanese artist, died in Tokyo on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97. She was renowned for her signature polka dots that covered paintings, sculptures, and human bodies. According to CBS News, Kusama attributed her lifelong obsession with dots to hallucinations she had beginning in childhood.
Kusama's body of work spanned over seven decades and continually evolved as she reinvented herself, from Japan to the US, as reported by Le Monde English. Her art was often inspired by vivid hallucinations and included larger-than-life paintings, sculptures, and installations.
Following her death, fans and cultural figures in Hong Kong paid tribute to Kusama, saying her legacy will inspire generations to come, as reported by the South China Morning Post and South China Morning Post - Hong Kong.
Brief written by urgent.news from CBS News, Le Monde English, South China Morning Post - Hong Kong, South China Morning Post, Malay Mail — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo apnews.com
- Yayoi Kusama, Japanese artist who turned hallucinations into art, dies at 97 abc.net.au
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- Yayoi Kusama, queen of polka dots who created a psychedelic, feminist and surrealist universe, dies at 97 lemonde.fr
- Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo abcnews.com
- Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo winnipegfreepress.com
