Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97, with multiple outlets reporting her death occurred in Tokyo on Aug. 14, 2026. Her studio and affiliated entities are cited as the sources of the date and announcement.

Kusama was internationally known for paintings, sculptures, and large-scale museum installations featuring her signature polka dots and “Infinity Mirror Rooms.” Some outlets also mention her use of pumpkins and other repeating motifs as part of a career spanning decades and multiple art forms. Several reports emphasize that her work is widely exhibited around the world and that she is among Japan’s most respected contemporary artists.

Reporting varies in emphasis. The Mirror highlights a personal dispute, noting she disliked that her ideas were later attributed to others. One source adds that Kusama spent years in a psychiatric facility, while others focus more on her artistic style—repetition, infinity, and self-obliteration—and cite the official statement released by her studio companies.