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Yayoi Kusama, Japanese artist famous for pumpkins and polka dots, dies aged 97

The avant-garde artist, who enjoyed a strong following in Hong Kong, died on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital due to multiple organ failure.

Published: 4:45pm, 27 Aug 2026Updated: 4:45pm, 27 Aug 2026

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama has died at the age of 97. Kusama’s obsessive polka dots, towering pumpkin sculptures and mesmerising Infinity Mirror Rooms have captivated audiences worldwide. The artist succumbed to multiple organ failure at a Tokyo hospital on August 14, her studio and the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo confirmed on Thursday.

Yayoi Kusama, Japanese artist famous for pumpkins and polka dots, dies aged 97

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The avant-garde artist, who enjoyed a strong following in Hong Kong, died on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital due to multiple organ failure.

The avant-garde artist, who enjoyed a strong following in Hong Kong, died on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital due to multiple organ failure.