Self-Portrait with Polka Dots - Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama (born 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan) is one of the most influential contemporary artists of the last century. Her career spans painting, sculpture, performance and immersive environments, unified by a distinctive use of dots, nets and repeating organic forms. From her early watercolours and experimental performances in New York during the 1960s to her mirrored Infinity Rooms that have captivated global audiences, Kusama has consistently reshaped how we experience space, scale and identity.

Her work is deeply rooted in personal experience. Kusama has spoken about hallucinations and obsessive visions since childhood, which she channels into art filled with repetition and infinity. Pumpkins, polka dots and mirrored spheres are recurring motifs that create worlds both joyful and unsettling. She is celebrated for monumental public sculptures, vibrant installations and her ability to connect minimalism, pop art and surrealism while maintaining a completely original voice.

Kusama’s art has been exhibited in leading institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Touring exhibitions such as Infinity Mirrors and Infinity Rooms have drawn record-breaking crowds and confirmed her as a cultural icon. Her collaborations with global fashion houses have expanded her reach, making her patterns and polka dots instantly recognisable.

Today Kusama continues to work from her Tokyo studio while living voluntarily in a nearby psychiatric hospital. She maintains a daily practice and continues to produce new paintings and installations. Her dedication has made her both a cult figure and a mainstream success. Kusama’s vision of endless repetition and cosmic connection invites viewers to explore infinity, beauty and their place in the universe.