Yayoi Kusama, Pioneer of Polka Dots and Infinity Rooms, Dies at 97
Yayoi Kusama, the celebrated Japanese artist, passed away earlier this month at 97. A pivotal figure of the 1960s Pop Art scene in New York, she gained recognition in 1966 as the first woman to showcase Japan at the Venice Biennale with her iconic work, Narcissus Garden. Her exhibitions drew substantial global attention. David Zwirner, her longtime gallery representative, expressed profound sorrow, labeling her as “the most famous living artist in the world.” Since 1977, Kusama resided at the Seiwa Hospital for the Mentally Ill in Tokyo, where she spoke candidly about her mental health and believed deeply in art's transformative power.
Key facts
- Yayoi Kusama died at age 97.
- She was the first woman to represent Japan at the Venice Biennale in 1966.
- Her work Narcissus Garden was shown at the 33rd Venice Biennale.
- David Zwirner represented her for 15 years.
- Her retrospective at Museum Ludwig in Cologne became the most successful in the museum's history.
- She lived at Seiwa Hospital for the Mentally Ill in Tokyo since 1977.
- She collaborated with Louis Vuitton and Veuve Clicquot.
- She continued to paint until her final days.
Entities
Artists
- Yayoi Kusama
- David Zwirner
Institutions
- David Zwirner
- Ota Fine Arts
- Victoria Miro
- Museum Ludwig
- Yayoi Kusama Museum
- Louis Vuitton
- Veuve Clicquot
- Galerie Magazine
Locations
- New York City
- Japan
- Venice
- Italy
- Cologne
- Tokyo
- Miyanoura