Inspired by Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama arrived in New York in 1958 aged 27. She had grown up in Matsumoto, Japan, where she experienced difficulties with her family. She worked in a military factory from the age of 13 during World War II. Kusama was heavily impacted by the events of the war, and she also began to experience hallucinations as a child. For Kusama, art became a way to deal with her mental health issues and the trauma that she had experienced throughout her life. When she arrived in New York, she sought advice from the modernist artist Georgia O'Keeffe. She soon established herself as a leading artist of the avant-garde.

Kusama is known mostly for her sculpture and installation works, which are characterized by bright colors, repeated patterns like polka dots, and the motif of the pumpkin. Some of her most famous works are the Mirror/Infinity rooms series. These are installation works that consist of rooms lined with mirrors creating infinite reflections, and containing objects such as pumpkin sculptures or neon balls. She has also worked in various other forms of art, including painting, performance, fashion, video art, and poetry. In an interview, Kusama said “I fight pain, anxiety, and fear every day, and the only method I have found that relieved my illness is to keep creating art. I followed the thread of art and somehow discovered a path that would allow me to live."

One of the most influential contemporary artists, Kusama has had a profound impact on the world of art. Her influence can be found in works of many artists, from her use of repeated motifs to her brightly colored sculptures. Join us today to discover a diverse selection of contemporary artworks that recall the art of Yayoi Kusama, with works by artists like Nathanael Koffi and Marie Julou!