Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929) is one of the world’s most iconic and influential living artists. Kusama is best known for her vibrant pumpkin sculptures, immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms, and distinctive use of polka dots, which have become visual signatures of her unique and expansive artistic universe. Her visionary work blends deeply personal themes with broader artistic and political currents, making her one of the most compelling figures in post-war and contemporary art.
Born in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama showed an early fascination with art which went hand in hand with the experiences of psychological trauma which would go on to inform much of her practice. Determined to make her mark beyond Japan, she moved to New York City in 1958, drawn by the energy of Abstract Expressionism and the burgeoning avant-garde scene. There, she quickly became part of a dynamic artistic community, engaging with movements such as Pop Art, Minimalism, and Feminism. Her work during this period - ranging from obsessive net paintings to provocative performance art - challenged both aesthetic norms and gender expectations.
Although she returned to Japan in the 1970s and voluntarily admitted herself to a psychiatric hospital - where she still lives and works – Kusama’s creativity was undiminished. Her career gained renewed international attention during the 1980s, culminating in a major breakthrough with her Infinity Mirror Room featuring pumpkins at the 1993 Venice Biennale. This pivotal moment solidified her global reputation and introduced a wider audience to the dreamlike, immersive environments she is now celebrated for.
Kusama’s art is conceptual at its core but deeply emotional in experience. Themes of infinity, self-obliteration, repetition, and psychological struggle recur across her practice, yet she presents them in ways that are inviting, often playful, and profoundly immersive. Her work invites viewers to step inside her worldview - one that is both deeply internal and cosmically expansive.
Today, Yayoi Kusama is widely regarded as Japan’s most important living artist and is the world’s top-selling female artist. Her exhibitions draw record-breaking crowds, and her installations are among the most photographed and shared artworks globally. Despite her international fame, Kusama’s work remains grounded in a personal vision - one of boundless energy, fearless vulnerability, and a lifelong commitment to transforming suffering into beauty through art.
