Japan’s ‘polka dot queen’ Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97
Internationally acclaimed Yayoi Kusama continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, according to her company.
Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, dubbed the "polka dot queen," has passed away at the age of 97, her company announced on Thursday. A hospital in Tokyo confirmed her death on August 14, 2026. The statement revealed that Kusama's life was entirely dedicated to artistic creation, spanning visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry.
Throughout her extraordinary life, she remained committed to her work, continuing to paint until her final days. Her art embodied themes of "forever love and eternal soul." Born in 1929, Kusama started producing her signature dot and net patterns at the tender age of ten. Her iconic appearance, marked by a bright red wig and bold spotted outfits, mirrored her battle with mental illness, which she bravely embraced in her art.
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