Japanese polka dot artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, renowned for her colorful polka dot-covered sculptures and installations, passed away at the age of 97. Kusama, who voluntarily resided in a psychiatric hospital for many years, was recognized for her distinctive red wig and eccentric creations. Her exhibitions drew massive crowds worldwide, and her paintings commanded some of the highest prices for a female artist.

A statement from her company revealed that Kusama pursued an internationally acclaimed career as a pioneering avant-garde artist whose practice encompassed visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry. She died at a Tokyo hospital on August 14th, having continued to paint until her final days, focusing on her themes of "forever love" and "eternal soul."

Despite initial neglect in the 1960s due to the predominately male-dominated New York art scene, Kusama gained international recognition with her "Infinity Mirror Rooms" installation. Her polka dot and pumpkin works became highly sought-after, but she felt distressed when male contemporaries copied her ideas. After years of feeling dejected, she returned to Japan and found solace in a hospital with an art therapy program.

Kusama became Japan's first solo artist to represent her country at the 1993 Venice Biennale. In 2001, she received the Asahi Prize for her significant cultural, academic, and artistic contributions. In 2022, one of her paintings sold for around $10.5 million at auction, solidifying her status as one of the highest-earning female artists in the world.

Tate Modern's interim director, Catherine Wood, emphasized Kusama's popularity, stating that her Infinity Mirror Rooms exhibition was their most visited ever. Kusama's childhood was marked by hallucinations that later inspired her art, which sought to help others comprehend her unique vision of the world.