Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97; Hyperallergic Fall 2026 New York Art Guide Released

Yayoi Kusama, the iconic Japanese artist known for her kaleidoscopic Infinity Mirrored Rooms, died in a Tokyo hospital on August 14 at age 97. Her studio and David Zwirner Gallery announced the news on August 26. Kusama's labor-intensive works, Borgesian fascination with mirrors, openness about mental health, and signature red bob made her a global icon. Meanwhile, Hyperallergic's editor-in-chief Hakim Bishara reflects on the passing of Dolly Parton and Sliman Mansour, and observes a mural of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali in a gentrified Brooklyn neighborhood. The fall 2026 New York Art Guide highlights exhibitions from Brancusi to Arthur Jafa. Other news includes a Pompeii exhibition debuting at the Dallas Museum of Art in December, the State Department removing a Kehinde Wiley painting from the Dominican Republic embassy, and artist Elizabeth Peyton being sued for copyright infringement over a painting of Oasis brothers. Maya Lin will debut a public art commission at UT Austin in April 2027. The Counterpublic Triennial commissions four Native artists. Critics discuss a book on Pahari painting, AIDS activist graphic design, and Maria Martins' legacy. Features cover the Santa Fe Indian Market, Rencontres d'Arles, and Justin Blinder's Citi Bike device. Community pieces include advice on Guggenheim Fellowships and remembrances of Marijke De Roover, Sliman Mansour, and Fabrizio Plessi.