Tokyo, August 27 (TNA) Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrated globally for her colourful polka dots, pumpkins and immersive installation art, has died at 97. Her studio and related foundation confirmed the news this week, saying she died on Aug. 14 at a hospital in Tokyo.
Kusama’s work transformed modern art with its recurring dots, mirrors and surreal visual worlds, turning her into a major figure in both the avant-garde and mainstream art scenes. Her installations, especially the “Infinity Mirror Rooms,” became international attractions and social media sensations in recent years.
Born in 1929, Kusama built a career spanning painting, sculpture, performance, fiction and poetry, and remained creatively active until her final days, according to statements released by her studio. The statement said she “never put down her paintbrush,” underscoring her lifelong devotion to art.
Kusama rose from postwar Japan to become one of the most influential contemporary artists of her generation, with major exhibitions across the world. Her singular style, defined by repetition, colour and obsessive patterning, left an enduring mark on global visual culture.