Yayoi Kusama, Japanese avant-garde artist, dies at 97

Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese avant-garde artist known for her polka dots and immersive installations, died on August 14 at a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 97. Her studio confirmed the news on Thursday, with the cause of death reported as multiple organ failure by several outlets Source: AP News, Al Jazeera. Kusama's company said she "continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush" Source: BBC.

Life and career

Born in Matsumoto, Japan, in 1929, Kusama began experiencing hallucinations as a child, which she channeled into her art. She moved to New York in the late 1950s, where she gained attention for her "Infinity Net" paintings and provocative performances, including anti-war happenings and an open letter to President Richard Nixon Source: CNN. Despite early struggles, she became a global superstar in her later years, with her "Infinity Mirror Rooms" attracting millions of visitors Source: DW News.

Legacy and tributes

Kusama's work was exhibited worldwide, and she collaborated with brands like Louis Vuitton. In 2016, she received Japan's Order of Culture Source: Euronews. Hong Kong figures, including West Kowloon Cultural District Authority chairman Bernard Chan, paid tribute, recalling her M+ exhibition Source: SCMP. Art dealer David Zwirner called her "without a doubt the most famous living artist in the world" Source: Al Jazeera.

Critical perspective

While many celebrated her, some critics remained skeptical. A Guardian critic argued her work "can be extraordinarily blank," contrasting with her troubled life, though he acknowledged the sensory overload of her large installations Source: The Guardian.