Remembering Yayoi Kusama: A Curator's Tribute

Curator Lynn Zelevansky shares her reflections on Yayoi Kusama in a piece featured by LACMA, detailing her journey from discovering a 1962 collage at MoMA to organizing the artist's inaugural major exhibition in the U.S. Zelevansky first encountered Kusama's art in the mid-1990s while working at the Museum of Modern Art, where she came across a collage utilizing file folder labels that embodied Minimalist principles. Kusama, who moved to New York in 1958, had her debut solo exhibition at Brata Gallery in 1959, receiving acclaim from critic Donald Judd. After her return to Japan in 1975, she faded from American recognition. In 1995, Zelevansky joined LACMA and curated 'Love Forever: Yayoi Kusama, 1958–1968' (1998), showcasing her New York period. Despite living voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital since 1977, Kusama continued her artistic endeavors from a nearby studio, with Zelevansky visiting her biannually for three years. The exhibition later made its way to MoMA, where Kusama had been removed during a 1969 performance called 'Grand Orgy to Awaken the Dead.' It also toured to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and various museums throughout the U.S. and Europe. Zelevansky's last meeting with Kusama occurred around 2008 in Tokyo, where they discussed her aspirations for a foundation and the Yayoi Kusama Museum, both of which are now established. The article emphasizes Kusama's determination and enduring impact.