Yayoi Kusama, Japanese artist known for polka dots, dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist whose vibrant polka dots, pumpkin sculptures, and immersive "Infinity Mirror Rooms" transformed childhood hallucinations into a globally recognized artistic language, has died at the age of 97. Her studio announced that she passed away at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14, 2026. The cause of death was reported as multiple organ failure by Kyodo News, though her official statement did not disclose a cause.

The announcement, made on August 27, 2026, by Yayoi Kusama Studio and her longtime representative, the David Zwirner gallery, described an artist who remained dedicated to her craft until the end. "She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul," the studio's statement read. "We will carry forward Kusama's wishes and, through art, continue to bring hope and strength for the future to people around the world."

Kusama's career spanned more than seven decades, making her one of the most recognizable and commercially successful contemporary artists in the world. Born in Matsumoto, Japan, in 1929, she began experiencing vivid visual hallucinations as a child,...