Avant-Garde Artist Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97

Renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, celebrated globally as the 'polka dot queen', passed away at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97.

Born in 1929, Kusama gained international acclaim for her pioneering work in visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry, characterized by her signature dot and net patterns developed since age 10.

Her company confirmed the death on August 27, 2026, noting that the artist continued to paint and explore themes of eternal love and soul until her final days.