Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese artist, passed away at the age of 97. She is best known for her immersive Infinity Rooms and polka dot sculptures, which often feature reflective surfaces and patterns. Despite her playful appearances, Kusama's art is deeply personal, reflecting her lifelong struggle with hallucinations and mental health issues.

Born in 1929, Kusama experienced hallucinations as a child, which she attributed to the emotional turmoil of growing up with an unloving mother who discouraged her artistic pursuits. She turned her visions into art, stating that her work was an expression of her life and mental struggles. Her career took off in New York in 1958, where she became part of the avant-garde scene.

Kusama's art often paralleled that of her male contemporaries, such as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg, but she remained less commercially successful. Her 1964 sculpture "Traveling Life" highlighted the gender pay gap in the art world. Throughout her career, Kusama tackled themes like fear of sex and self-obliteration, using repetitive patterns and phallic shapes in her work.

Kusama held happenings as protests against the Vietnam War, often involving nudity and sexual activity. Her 1966 "Narcissus Garden" at the Venice Biennale critiqued the commercialization of the art world. In 1993, she returned as an invited artist, solidifying her status as a globally recognized artist. Kusama continued creating art until her death, living in a Tokyo psychiatric clinic while maintaining her productivity.