08/27/2026
Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama passed away yesterday at the age of 97.
She was celebrated as one of the world's most famous sculptors, installation artists, as well as painting, poetry, fashion and film.
Her mesmerizing installation, "Infinity Mirrors," showed at the Cleveland Museum of Art (2018) combined LED lights and polka dots, endlessly reflected in mirrors. The visitor only has about 20-30 seconds in each exhibition room.
On why many of them contain polka dots, Kusama replied, "Since my childhood, I have always made works with polka dots. Earth, moon, sun and human beings all represent dots; a single particle among billions."
Throughout her life, she persevered through some mental health battles, and transformed some of the hallucinations into a career of beautiful works of art.
Into her 90's, she worked from her studio in Tokyo where she still painted everyday from 9 am-6 pm, sitting in a wheelchair with a mind full of paintings, saying she will continue to create more and better work.
And we know you will, Ms Kusama. Thankful for a small glimmer into your beautiful work.
