Japan's "polka dot queen" Yayoi Kusama dies at 97

TOKYO - Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, known as the "polka dot queen", has died aged 97, a statement from her company said Thursday.

"It is with profound sorrow that the passing of Yayoi Kusama at a hospital in Tokyo on Aug 14, 2026, at the age of 97," the statement said.

"Throughout an extraordinary lifetime devoted entirely to artistic creation, Kusama pursued an internationally acclaimed career as a pioneering avant-garde artist whose creative practice encompassed visual art, performance, fiction, and poetry," it said.

"She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul," it added.

"We will carry forward Kusama's wishes and, through art, continue to bring hope and strength for the future to people around the world," it said.

Born in 1929, the youngest daughter of a wealthy family began producing her signature dot and net patterns aged 10.

Instantly recognisable in her bright red wig and bold spotted outfits, her exuberant work was the expression of a long battle with mental illness. - AFP