Japan’s ‘Polka Dot Queen’ Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama was a Japanese avant-garde artist born on 22 March 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan. She died on 14 August 2026 at a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 97, and her company, Yayoi Kusama Inc., announced her death on 27 August 2026.

Yayoi Kusama and Avant-Garde Art

Kusama became known for polka-dot motifs, repetitive patterns, pumpkin sculptures, and immersive installations called Infinity Mirror Rooms. She was associated with the 1960s avant-garde and pop art movements in New York City after moving there in 1957.

Career, Style and Working Life

Kusama returned to Japan in the 1970s after her period in New York. From 1977 until her death in 2026, she lived voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo and continued painting and creating art on a daily basis.

Institutions, Exhibitions and Public Record

The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo confirmed that its exhibition titled KUSAMA’s POP would continue through 30 August 2026. A supporting foundation stated on 27 August 2026 that she died of multiple organ failure, while the official statement on her website did not specify a cause of death.

Important Facts for Exams

• Yayoi Kusama was born in Matsumoto, Japan, on 22 March 1929.
• She moved to New York City in 1957 and became active in the 1960s avant-garde and pop art movements.
• Infinity Mirror Rooms are among her best-known immersive art installations.
• She lived in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo from 1977 until 2026.

Legacy in Contemporary Art

Kusama remained one of the best-known Japanese artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her work included painting, sculpture, installation art, and repeated visual patterns.