"Queen of Polka Dots" Yayoi Kusama Passes Away at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the giant of Japanese avant-garde art known globally as the "Queen of Polka Dots," passed away peacefully due to multiple organ failure at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97. On August 27, her studio officially released a statement confirming her passing, stating: "She continued painting until the very end of her life, never putting down her brush, and was constantly searching for eternal love and the eternal soul."

Kusama was not only a national treasure in Japan, but also one of the highest-selling female artists in the global auction market. Throughout her lifetime, she transformed the auditory and visual hallucinations that tormented her into endless polka dots and high-tension visual masterworks—using art to achieve self-redemption while healing the hearts of millions around the world.

From Mental Struggle to the "Infinity Nets"

Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Kusama suffered from hallucinations and illusions from the age of ten. To combat her deep-seated fear, she began painting the recurring spots and patterns she saw onto canvas, laying the foundation for her iconic Infinity Nets series and her concept of "Self-Obliteration"—a practice of covering herself and her environment in dots to melt the self into the universe.

The Avant-Garde Pioneer Who Took New York by Storm

Encouraged by American painter Georgia O'Keeffe, Kusama moved to the United States in 1957 and settled in New York the following year. In the 1960s, she disrupted the art scene with her massive net paintings, soft sculptures, and immersive installation art like the famous Infinity Mirror Rooms. She staged bold, anti-war performance art events across New York landmarks, establishing herself alongside contemporaries like Andy Warhol and Donald Judd.

Return to Japan and Global Triumph

In 1973, Kusama returned to Japan due to deteriorating health and voluntarily checked into a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo in 1977, setting up her studio right across the street. For nearly half a century, she maintained a disciplined daily routine of working and creating. Her international resurgence accelerated in 1993 when she represented Japan at the 45th Venice Biennale, cementing her legacy with her signature Pumpkin sculptures and vibrant polka dots.

Yayoi Kusama leaves behind an extraordinary artistic legacy—one that will continue to bring hope, strength, and healing to the world through her infinite dots.