The art world is mourning the loss of Yayoi Kusama, the celebrated Japanese artist whose vibrant polka dots, pumpkin sculptures, and immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms made her one of the most recognizable contemporary artists of the modern era.

Yayoi Kusama died at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97, according to a statement released by her studio and company.

Known globally as the "Polka Dot Queen," Yayoi Kusama transformed personal experiences of hallucinations, anxiety, and mental illness into a unique artistic language that captivated audiences across generations. Her work spanned painting, sculpture, installation art, performance, literature, and fashion, earning her a place among the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Born on March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama began creating art as a child. She later described experiencing visions of repeating patterns, dots, and flowers from an early age. Rather than allowing these experiences to overwhelm her, she channelled them into her art, developing a visual vocabulary of endless repetition that became her signature.

After moving to the United States in the late 1950s, Yayoi Kusama became an important figure in New York's avant-garde art scene. Her groundbreaking "Infinity Nets" paintings and experimental installations drew attention for their originality and ambition. Although she faced significant obstacles as a Japanese woman in a predominantly male art world, her work gained respect from critics and fellow artists.

Her global fame surged in later decades through her spectacular Infinity Mirror Rooms, immersive environments that used mirrors and lights to create seemingly endless spaces. These installations became some of the most visited attractions in museums worldwide, attracting millions of visitors and introducing her work to new generations.

Her brightly colored pumpkin sculptures, covered in her trademark dots, became cultural icons in their own right.

Despite lifelong struggles with mental health, Yayoi Kusama remained remarkably productive. She voluntarily lived in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo from 1977 while continuing to work daily in a nearby studio. Art, she often said, was both her calling and her means of survival.

In announcing her death, Yayoi Kusama Studio noted that she "continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush," underscoring a lifelong dedication to artistic creation. The statement also emphasized her enduring themes of love, hope, and the human spirit.

Tributes have poured in from across the international art community, reflecting the extraordinary reach of her work and influence. Museums, galleries, collectors, and admirers have remembered Yayoi Kusama not only for her instantly recognizable imagery but also for her pioneering role in contemporary art and her ability to transform deeply personal experiences into universal artistic expression.

Yayoi Kusama leaves behind a legacy that reshaped contemporary art. From her mesmerizing dots and nets to her immersive installations, she challenged perceptions of space, identity, and infinity, ensuring her work will continue to inspire audiences around the world for generations to come.