Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama (草间弥生) – Japanese Visionary of Infinity and Repetition

Yayoi Kusama, born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, is one of the most influential and iconic artists of the contemporary era. Her practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, and performance art, often unified by her signature motifs: polka dots, nets, pumpkins, and the concept of infinity. From early avant-garde work in 1960s New York to her now-famous Infinity Mirror Rooms, Kusama’s immersive environments have captivated global audiences for decades.

A pioneer of pop art and minimalism, Kusama’s art explores deeply personal themes of obsession, hallucination, and mental health. She has openly spoken about her experiences with psychological trauma, channeling those experiences into hypnotic and visually overwhelming works that invite viewers to lose themselves in boundless space and repetition.

Her influence on contemporary art is vast, touching artists from Andy Warhol to Damien Hirst. Today, Kusama continues to create from her Tokyo studio, where she has voluntarily lived in a psychiatric hospital since the 1970s. Her global exhibitions consistently attract record-breaking attendance, affirming her as one of the most beloved and enduring artists of our time.