Yayoi Kusama, Queen of Polka-Dot Pumpkins, Dies at 97
Creatrip Team
22 days ago
Yayoi Kusama, the influential Japanese artist known for polka-dot pumpkins and mirrored infinity rooms, died at 97 from multiple organ failure. Kusama, who described art as a healing force, continued painting until the end and spent long periods creating work while voluntarily hospitalized in Tokyo. Born in Matsumoto in 1929, she moved to the U.S. in the 1950s, joined the avant-garde scene, struggled with mental health, and returned to Japan in the 1970s. Her career was later celebrated worldwide with major retrospectives and museum shows; she was honored with the Order of Culture in 2016. Kusama’s market value peaked in recent years, but she insisted art’s purpose was to convey love and hope across generations.
