Who was Yayoi Kusama? Japanese 'Polka-Dot Queen' who challenged art with nude happenings dies at 97; Her painting 'Untitled (Nets)' fetched nearly $10.5 million at auction
Yayoi Kusama emerged from Matsumoto, Japan, to become one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary art. Her obsessive use of polka dots, pumpkins and endless nets transformed painting, sculpture and installation into immersive experiences that resonated worldwide. She worked until her final days, passing away at the age of 97.
In the late 1950s she relocated to New York, where the city’s experimental scene embraced her daring performances. The 1960s “happenings” featured nude participants painted with vivid dots, a radical gesture that earned her the nickname “Queen of Happenings” and positioned her at the forefront of avant‑garde practice.
Kusama’s signature motifs—repeating dots, mirrored infinity rooms and decorated pumpkins—originated from childhood hallucinations and a lifelong fascination with repetition. These elements turned personal anxiety into a universal visual language, inviting viewers to lose themselves in a field of endless pattern.
International institutions later celebrated her contributions: she represented Japan at the Venice Biennale, received the Order of Culture, and her work fetched record prices, notably Untitled (Nets) selling for over $10 million. Her influence continues to shape generations of artists who explore immersion, repetition and the boundary between mind and matter.