Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, renowned for turning polka dots into a global art language across paintings, sculptures, and immersive installations, has died at age 97, her studio announced on Thursday. The confirmation marks the end of a career that bridged avant-garde experimentation and mainstream acclaim.
Kusama’s work, infamous for its repetitive dot motifs and immersive environments, traveled from Japanese studios to galleries and museums worldwide, shaping contemporary art’s trajectory for decades. Her distinctive approach challenged conventional boundaries and left a lasting imprint on the international art scene.
Details surrounding the cause or circumstances of Kusama’s death were not disclosed in the studio’s statement. She remained a prominent figure in the art world throughout her life, continuing to influence and inspire generations of artists and fans with her expansive body of work.