Yayoi Kusama
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about the ARTIST

Yayoi Kusama, born on March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto, Japan, is a renowned contemporary artist known for her distinctive polka dots, infinity nets, and immersive installations. Kusama's early interest in art led her to study Nihonga, a traditional Japanese painting style, before moving to New York City in 1958.

In New York, she became a central figure in the avant-garde scene, influencing and collaborating with artists like Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg. Kusama's works from this period include her "Infinity Net" paintings and provocative performance art pieces that challenged societal norms.

Despite struggling with mental health issues throughout her life, Kusama's creativity remained undiminished. She voluntarily checked herself into a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo in 1977, where she has lived ever since, continuing to create art in her nearby studio.

Kusama's art often explores themes of self-obliteration, infinity, and the interconnectedness of all things. Her iconic "Infinity Mirror Rooms" have gained worldwide acclaim, and she has exhibited extensively around the globe. Kusama is celebrated as one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary art with her unique vision and relentless dedication to her craft.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2022: "Yayoi Kusama: Cosmic Nature," New York Botanical Garden, New York, USA
  • 2019: "Yayoi Kusama: EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR LOVE," David Zwirner Gallery, New York, USA
  • 2017: "Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors," Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C., USA
  • 2013: "Yayoi Kusama," David Zwirner Gallery, New York, USA
  • 2012: "Yayoi Kusama: Kusama's Body Festival in '60s," Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Matsumoto, Japan
  • 2009: "Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years," Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2017: "Infinity Mirrors," multiple venues across North America including Seattle Art Museum, Broad Art Museum, and Art Gallery of Ontario
  • 2014: "The World Goes Pop," Tate Modern, London, UK
  • 2012: "Japanese Art After 1945: Scream Against the Sky," Yokohama Museum of Art, Yokohama, Japan
  • 1998: "Love Forever: Yayoi Kusama, 1958-1968," Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA
  • AWARDS AND HONORS

  • 2017: Order of Culture, Japan
  • 2016: Asahi Prize, Japan
  • 2006: Praemium Imperiale, Japan
  • 2003: Person of Cultural Merit, Japan
  • PUBLICATIONS

  • 2011: "Infinity Net: The Autobiography of Yayoi Kusama"
  • 2003: "Manhattan Suicide Addict" (novel)
  • WORKS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
  • Tate Modern, London, UK
  • Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
  • National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, USA
  • Exhibitions

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