Yayoi Kusama, Creator of Infinity Mirror Rooms, Passes Away at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist famous for her polka dots and immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms, died on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital at age 97. Her work, which began with hallucinations and evolved into large-scale installations, had a profound impact on contemporary art and design. She was also known for her pumpkin sculptures and performance art.

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Kusama's formative years were shaped by wartime labor and domestic turmoil, experiences that fueled the hallucinations behind her signature dot patterns. After relocating to America in 1958, she developed the Infinity Net paintings through marathon sessions lasting up to 60 hours, establishing herself among leading avant-garde figures of the era. Her practice later expanded into performance art, including politically charged happenings and a notable letter to President Nixon protesting the Vietnam War.

Returning to Japan in 1973, Kusama voluntarily resided at a psychiatric facility from