Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97, Celebrated Worldwide for Unique Art

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.