Japan's 'polka dot queen,' avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese avant-garde artist celebrated for her distinctive polka dot imagery, pumpkin sculptures, and mesmerizing mirror-based installations, passed away on August 14 due to multiple organ failure at a Tokyo hospital. She was 97 years old. Kusama's illustrious career spanned over six decades, during which she emerged as a pioneer in contemporary art.

Her art was marked by a powerful exploration of hallucinations, which she began experiencing in her youth and subsequently translated into her creative works. Following her formal training in painting at an art school in Kyoto, Kusama ventured to the United States in 1957, eventually settling in New York City. Here, she produced vibrant paintings, crafted soft sculptures, and organized public events such as body painting festivals and fashion shows, often addressing social issues like the Vietnam War.

Returning to Japan in 1973, Kusama gained international acclaim with her immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms, installations that offered viewers the illusion of endless reflections. In 2017, she opened her own museum dedicated to her artistry in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. Kusama, frequently seen wearing a colored wig and her characteristic polka dot pattern, was featured in TIME magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people in 2016.

Her dedication to her craft was recognized with the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, bestowed upon her by the Japanese government in 2006.