Rest in peace.
Recognized as one of the fundamental figures of contemporary art in Japan, the creator Yayoi Kusama He died at the age of 97 on August 14, 2026 in a hospital due to multiple organ failure. The news of his death was publicly announced on August 26, 2026 through the gallery David Zwirnerfirm in charge of its representation.
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Yayoi Kusama, who passed away at the age of 97. Kusama dedicated his life to an international career as an avant-garde artist; Although he worked primarily in the visual arts, he also extended his practice to performance, novels, poetry, and other forms of expression. He continued painting until shortly before his death, never letting go of the brush and remaining steadfast in his lifelong conviction that love can save the world. It has been one of the great privileges of my professional career to have been able to perform the extraordinary work of Yayoi Kusama over the last fifteen years. The last time Kusama visited New York—a city where she lived for many years—was in 2013. On that visit, she opened the first of many exhibitions in our galleries, which generated hour-long lines for the opportunity to experience her work. His unwavering message of love and peace has reached millions of fans around the world. At the time of her passing, Kusama was undoubtedly the most famous living artist in the world. “I will miss her deeply,” the statement reads.
With a prolific career that spanned seven decades, his artistic work encompassed disciplines such as painting, sculpture, installations, performance, literature and fashion design. The style of Kusama She stood out for her constant incorporation of dots, networks, repetitive patterns and immersive environments, elements that linked her closely to avant-garde movements such as minimalism, pop art, surrealism and feminist art.
