Yayoi Kusama

“A polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colorful, senseless and unknowing. Polka dots become movement. Polka dots are a way to infinity.” Kusama, Yayoi

One of the most powerful and influential contemporary female artists today is Yayoi Kusama. The 85-year old Japanese artist is known for using bright colorful circles, polka dots, abstract furniture and complex painting to her artwork. From a very early age, Kusama has been creating art. After completing fine arts schooling in Kyoto, Japan, she made the move to New York City where she was able to explore avant-garde art.

 Kusama was a courageous woman for her time, she left home at an early age for art school. This move was very much disapproved by her parents and family; since it was not a traditional role for a woman to take in pre-world war japanese society. She publicly struggles with mental disorders which in turn as inspired her to create wonderful works of art. 

Morbid Hallucination Inspire Her Art

        From her earliest paintings exhibition called “Lingering Dreams”, she portrayed traditional Japanese themes of floral still life into a warped and horrid of withered limbs and vagina dentata, in order to counter the popular traditional role of women in her home country of Japan. In the late 1960’s, Kusama became attached to hippie counter culture embracing the ideals of world peace, sexual revolution and tolerance for all genders in her own life and in her artwork.

Yayoi Kusuma embraced Avent-Garden Hippie Art Values (World Peace & Gender Equality)

            In her recent years, Kusuma has moved back to Japan. She checked herself into a psychiatric ward and continues to live there to this day. However, she has large studio and continues to work on her craft, this allows her to still produce art and deal with her personal demons at the same time. Kusuma’s art is influential for female artists because it goes against the current society model. She became a rebel of sorts by crafting and making her art that defined the current role for woman. Even at her age, she still produces exhibition in New York City, at museums and arts galleries. Yayoi Kusuma uses her femininity and outspoken psychiatric issues to produce her signature art. 


 -Roberto Moreno (#5)

• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/arts/design/yayoi-kusama-at-whitney-museum-of-american-art.html?pagewanted=all
• http://arto.mx/2014/04/29/yayoi-kusama-and-her-infinite-obsession-in-mexico-city/
• http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/arts/design/yayoi-kusamas-mirrored-room-at-david-zwirner-gallery.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0