Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97, Celebrated Worldwide for Unique Art
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, renowned for her unique and influential art, died at 97. Her work, deeply connected to her mental health struggles, was celebrated worldwide, including a 2021 retrospective in Tel Aviv. Kusama was also known for her social media presence and luxury brand collaborations.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Yayoi Kusama, a globally renowned Japanese artist, died at age 97.
- She was recognized as a global brand and influential figure, named by Time in 2016.
- A major retrospective of her 70-year career was held at Tel Aviv Museum of Art in 2021.
- Kusama's art was deeply connected to her mental health struggles since childhood.
- She was the most tagged artist on social media and collaborated with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.
- Her Tokyo studio was near the psychiatric hospital where she lived.
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama passed away at the age of 97, according to the Kyodo news agency on Thursday. Kusama was one of the most popular and influential artists globally, recognized as a "global brand" even in the 1990s. She gained celebrity status especially in the last decade of her life due to her unforgettable presence and distinctive artistic style. In 2016, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2021, a major retrospective exhibition of Kusama's work was held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, showcasing over 70 years of her prolific career. Kusama was diagnosed with a mental health condition at the age of 10, and her art was deeply intertwined with her personal struggle and treatment. Her studio, where she created her unique works, was located across the street from the psychiatric institution in Tokyo where she lived.
Kusama was also the most tagged artist on social media, with hundreds of thousands of people worldwide photographing themselves in her distinctive environments. She was known for commercial collaborations with luxury brands, notably with Louis Vuitton in 2012, which significantly increased awareness of her art and personal narrative. Kusama's captivating and playful aesthetic was closely linked to her lifelong battle with mental illness, making her work both a form of therapy and expression.
