Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese avant-garde artist known for her colorful polka dot sculptures and installations, has passed away at the age of 97. The avant-garde artist, who spent decades voluntarily living in a psychiatric hospital, was recognized for her distinctive bright red wig and eccentric creations. Kusama's exhibitions attracted large crowds worldwide, and her vibrant artworks fetched some of the highest prices for a female artist.

Her company released a statement, noting that Kusama led an extraordinary life devoted to artistic creation, exploring visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry throughout her career. She continued painting until her final days, never abandoning her brush, and pursued the exploration of "forever love and eternal soul." Kusama's legacy includes being the first solo artist from Japan to represent the country at the 1993 Venice Biennale and receiving the Asahi Prize in 2001 for outstanding cultural, academic, and artistic contributions.

Her paintings have sold for millions, with one fetched approximately $10.5 million at auction in 2022, making her works among the highest-earning female artists' works in the world.