“With great sadness” the death of Y. Kusama is announced, according to a statement released by her company. The artist is described as a pioneer of the avant-garde, whose work encompassed visual art, performance, literature, and poetry.
Y. Kusama voluntarily lived in a psychiatric hospital for decades. She was easily recognizable by her bright red wig and polka-dotted clothes.
“She painted until her last days, never letting go of her brush,” the statement said.
From an Undervalued Artist – to a Global Icon
Y. Kusama achieved her greatest recognition as an artist in her eighties and nineties. For most of her life, she was unfairly ignored.
In the 1960s, on New York’s male-dominated art scene, Y. Kusama stood out with provocative exhibitions – her works included phallic-shaped sculptures, and some performances featured nude people.
In 1965, she introduced “Infinity Mirror Rooms” – installations where mirrors and lights create the illusion of infinite space. These installations later attracted millions of visitors. Her polka-dotted works and pumpkin sculptures also became highly sought after.
The artist gained international recognition only decades later. In 1993, she became the first Japanese artist to represent her country solo at the Venice Biennale.
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Later, her works were exhibited in major museums worldwide, and the artist collaborated with luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton. In 2022, one of her paintings sold at auction for approximately 10.5 million US dollars.
“Pumpkins Talk to Me”
Y. Kusama was born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. In her childhood, she experienced hallucinations, seeing flashes and embers. Later, she turned art into a way to convey her vision of the world to others.
Her family disapproved of her early decision to study painting in Kyoto. Later, her conservative relatives reportedly told her that artistic activity brought great shame to the family.
In recent years, Y. Kusama’s popularity has been further boosted by social media. Her vibrant floral motifs, shiny metal spheres, and infinity installations have become extremely popular backdrops for selfies.
The pumpkin became one of the most important symbols of her work. For the artist, it represented comfort and nostalgia.
“Pumpkins talk to me,” Y. Kusama once said.
On her native Japanese island of Naoshima, visitors arriving by ferry are greeted by one of her most famous sculptures – a bright red pumpkin adorned with black dots.
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