Yayoi Kusama was one of Japan’s most influential modern artists, celebrated worldwide for her polka-dot paintings, pumpkin sculptures, Infinity Mirror Rooms and immersive installations. Born March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto, Japan, she developed her artistic language from childhood and later became a major figure in New York’s avant-garde scene. Kusama died in Tokyo on August 14, 2026, at theYayoi Kusama Age of 97, according to her official website. Her extraoAgerdinary career crossed painting, sculpture, installation, performance, literature and fashion.
Yayoi Kusama Age: Quick Bio
Detail
Information
Full Name
Yayoi Kusama
Date of Birth
March 22, 1929
Height
Approximately 5 ft (1.52 m), estimated
Yayoi Kusama Age at Death
97 years old
Date of Death
August 14, 2026
Birthplace
Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Nationality
Japanese
Profession
Avant-garde artist, painter, sculptor, installation artist, writer and novelist
Pop art, minimalism, surrealism, feminist art, conceptual art and avant-garde art
Years Active
1950s–2026
Education
Studied traditional Nihonga painting in Kyoto; attended Kyoto City Senior High School of Art.
Estimated Net Worth
Not officially disclosed; online estimates vary substantially, so no single figure can be treated as confirmed.
Height Source Status
Estimated, rather than officially documented
Weight
Not reliably documented by authoritative sources
Hair Color
Red, associated with her distinctive public appearance
Eye Color
Not reliably documented by authoritative sources
Marital Status
Never married according to widely published biographical accounts
Husband
None publicly documented
Children
No children publicly documented
Siblings
Youngest of four children
Parents
Her parents operated a plant nursery and seed business in Matsumoto.
Family Background
Raised in a relatively affluent merchant family connected to a seed and plant nursery business.
Hobbies / Interests
Painting, writing, poetry and creative experimentation; art remained the central focus of her life.
Instagram
Her work and legacy are widely represented online, but an independently verified personal Instagram account should not be assumed without confirmation.
Known For
Infinity Nets, Infinity Mirror Rooms, polka dots, pumpkins and large-scale immersive art
Born in Matsumoto, Japan, as the youngest of four children.
1940s
Began developing her artistic practice while experiencing vivid visual and auditory phenomena that later influenced her work.
1948–1952
Studied traditional Nihonga painting in Kyoto and began exhibiting her work in Japan.
1952
Held her first solo exhibition in Matsumoto, displaying more than 200 works on paper.
1957
Moved to the United States, beginning a major new chapter in her artistic career.
1958
Settled in New York and began producing her celebrated Infinity Net paintings, alongside soft sculptures and installations.
1960s
Became an important figure in New York’s avant-garde scene through paintings, sculpture, happenings, installations and performance art.
1965
Presented Infinity Mirror Room—Phalli’s Field, helping establish the immersive mirror-installation format for which she became famous.
1973
Returned to Japan after spending roughly 16 years in the United States and expanded her work into poetry and fiction.
1977
Voluntarily entered a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo while continuing to work from a nearby studio.
1993
Became the first woman to represent Japan at the Venice Biennale.
1990s
Experienced a major international revival as museums and galleries renewed attention to her decades of avant-garde work.
2014
Was recognized internationally as one of the world’s most popular contemporary artists.
2016
Received Japan’s Order of Culture, one of the country’s highest cultural honors.
2017
The Yayoi Kusama Museum opened in Tokyo, creating a permanent institution dedicated to her work and artistic legacy.
2022
Her 1959 painting Untitled (Nets) sold for US$10.496 million at Phillips, setting a major auction record for the artist.
2023–2026
Continued to receive major international exhibitions and remained one of the most commercially and culturally influential artists of her generation.
August 14, 2026
Died at age 97 in a Tokyo hospital. Her company announced her death on August 27, 2026.
Yayoi Kusama Family
Family Detail
Information
Father
Her father was involved in the family’s plant and seed business.
Mother
Her mother came from the same family background and was strongly opposed to Kusama pursuing an artistic career.
Siblings
Three siblings; Kusama was the youngest of four children.
Sister / Brothers
Individual details about her siblings are relatively limited in major public biographies.
Family Business
The family operated a plant nursery and seed business in Matsumoto.
Husband
None publicly documented
Children
None publicly documented
Family Influence
Her childhood surroundings, including flowers, plants and pumpkins from the family business, became important visual influences on her later artistic vocabulary.
Yayoi Kusama Social Media Accounts
Platform
Information
Instagram
No personal account is included here without reliable verification.
Official Website
Yayoi Kusama Official Website
Official Museum
Yayoi Kusama Museum, Tokyo
Online Legacy
Her artwork, exhibitions and museum projects continue to have a major international digital presence.
