
TL;DR
Renowned avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her colorful polka dots and pumpkin sculptures, passed away at 97 due to multiple organ failure. Her innovative work gained international acclaim, particularly in the 1990s, marking her as a significant figure in contemporary art.
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Full Summary
Yayoi Kusama, a celebrated avant-garde artist from Nagano, Japan, died on the 14th at the age of 97 from multiple organ failure. She was famous for her distinctive use of polka dots and net patterns, which stemmed from hallucinations she experienced since childhood.
Kusama's artistic journey began in the United States in 1957, where she became a prominent figure in the New York art scene, known for her provocative street performances advocating against the Vietnam War. Her works included paintings, prints, and soft sculptures, with notable installations like the pumpkin in Naoshima, Japan.
She represented Japan at the 1993 Venice Biennale and held a major exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1998, solidifying her status as a leading contemporary artist. Her influence continued to grow, with significant retrospectives held in major Western museums between 2011 and 2012.
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