The global art community is mourning the loss of a true visionary. Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, globally celebrated for her iconic polka-dot patterns, whimsical pumpkin sculptures, and immersive mirror installations, passed away on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97. According to an official statement released by her studio and website on August 27, Kusama died at a hospital in Tokyo following a period of declining health after suffering a brain hemorrhage weeks prior. Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary life entirely devoted to groundbreaking artistic creation.

Born in Matsumoto, Japan, in 1929, Kusama experienced severe visual and auditory hallucinations since childhood, seeing repeating dots and nets engulf her surroundings. Rather than suppressing these terrifying visions, she channeled them directly into her art. During World War II, she worked in a military factory, and in 1957, she moved to New York, where she became a pioneering figure in the 1960s avant-garde scene, staging bold anti-war performances and producing vast "Infinity Net" paintings.

After returning to Japan in 1973, Kusama voluntarily checked into a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo in 1977, where she resided for the rest of her life while maintaining a nearby studio. This routine enabled her to create her mesmerizing "Infinity Mirror Rooms" and monumental pumpkin installations that attracted millions worldwide. In 2016, she received Japan's prestigious Order of Culture. Kusama painted until her final days, transforming her psychological struggles into an eternal celebration of love, infinity, and human resilience.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]