{
  "id": 3656434,
  "title": "Japan’s ‘polka dot queen’ Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japans-polka-dot-queen-yayoi-kusama-dies-aged-97",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T02:43:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/27/japan-s-polka-dot-queen-yayoi-kusama-dies-aged-97"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese avant-garde artist famously known as the \"polka dot queen,\" has passed away at the age of 97, as confirmed by her company on Thursday. Her company released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the artist's passing, which occurred at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14, 2026. Kusama's artistic journey was one of extraordinary dedication, spanning her entire lifetime, during which she made significant contributions to visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry. She continued to paint even until her final days, maintaining her commitment to her art form. Throughout her life, Kusama's work was characterized by its vibrant use of polka dots and nets, which she began creating at the age of ten. Her distinctive style, often seen in her bright red wig and bold spotted outfits, was a reflection of her ongoing struggle with mental illness.",
  "summary": "Internationally acclaimed Yayoi Kusama continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, according to her company.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japanese-artist-yayoi-kusama-dies-at-97",
        "published": "2026-08-27T02:25:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "Japanese Contemporary Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97 (UPDATE1)",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japanese-contemporary-artist-yayoi-kusama-dies-at-97-update1",
        "published": "2026-08-27T02:25:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Japan's 'polka dot queen,' avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japans-polka-dot-queen-avant-garde-artist-yayoi-kusama-dies-at-97",
        "published": "2026-08-27T02:42:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Japan’s ‘polka dot queen’ Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japans-polka-dot-queen-yayoi-kusama-dies-aged-97-3658508",
        "published": "2026-08-27T02:43:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japanese-artist-yayoi-kusama-dies-at-97-3649383",
        "published": "2026-08-27T02:58:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tokyo Weekender",
        "title": "Yayoi Kusama, the Queen of Polka Dots, Dies at 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/yayoi-kusama-the-queen-of-polka-dots-dies-at-97",
        "published": "2026-08-27T03:17:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nippon.com News",
        "title": "Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/japanese-artist-yayoi-kusama-dies-at-97-3662344",
        "published": "2026-08-27T03:40:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Yayoi Kusama, high priestess of polka dots, has died",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/yayoi-kusama-high-priestess-of-polka-dots-has-died",
        "published": "2026-08-27T03:42:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Yayoi Kusama: Japan's kaleidoscopic, troubled 'polka dot queen'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/yayoi-kusama-japans-kaleidoscopic-troubled-polka-dot-queen",
        "published": "2026-08-27T03:58:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Yayoi Kusama, groundbreaking artist known for her signature polka dots, dies at 97",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/yayoi-kusama-groundbreaking-artist-known-for-her-signature-polka-dots",
        "published": "2026-08-27T03:59:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}