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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Arts and Culture devider Yayoi Kusama, iconic Japanese artist, dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, iconic Japanese artist, dies at 97

The Japanese avant-garde artist was known worldwide for her polka dots, pumpkins, and immersive 'Infinity Mirror Rooms'

Published Aug 27, 2026 10:49 am
(Photo: Yayoi Kusama Studio Inc.)
(Photo: Yayoi Kusama Studio Inc.)
Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist whose vivid polka dots and immersive installations made her one of the most recognizable names in contemporary art, has died at 97.
Yayoi died Aug. 14 at a hospital in Tokyo, according to her studio. A specific cause of death was not immediately provided.
Born in Matsumoto, Japan, in 1929, Yayoi developed a distinctive artistic language built around repetition, patterns, and the idea of infinity. Her work spanned painting, sculpture, performance and installation, eventually reaching audiences far beyond the traditional art world.
She became particularly celebrated for her “Infinity Mirror Rooms,” which use mirrors, lights and repeated forms to create seemingly endless spaces. Her large pumpkin sculptures, covered in her signature dots, became another defining part of her visual identity.
Museums around the world mounted major exhibitions of her installations, while her instantly recognizable imagery crossed into fashion, design, and popular culture.
Yayoi continued working into her 90s. A public memorial is expected to be announced soon.
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