[2026] "Queen of Polka Dots" Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97 | Cause of Death and Tribute Summary

Avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama passed away on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97 due to multiple organ failure. This article summarizes the confirmed facts regarding the cause of death and career of Kusama, known as the "Queen of Polka Dots," as well as Shingo Katori's tribute and the responses of the Matsumoto City Museum of Art and the Yayoi Kusama Museum.

[2026] "Queen of Polka Dots" Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97 | Cause of Death and Tribute Summary

Yayoi Kusama passes away | Cause of death and circumstances surrounding the announcement
The journey of Yayoi Kusama, the "Queen of Polka Dots"
Global acclaim and collaboration with Louis Vuitton
Tributes from various fields, including Shingo Katori
Museum Response | Matsumoto City Museum of Art / Yayoi Kusama Museum
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. When did Yayoi Kusama pass away?

A. She passed away on August 14, 2026, at a hospital in Tokyo. She was 97 years old.

Q. What was the cause of death?

A. He died of multiple organ failure. It is said that he continued painting until shortly before his death.

Q. When was it announced?

A. On August 27, 2026, her passing was announced on the official websites of the Yayoi Kusama Studio and the Yayoi Kusama Museum.

1. Yayoi Kusama's Death | Cause of Death and Circumstances of the Announcement

Yayoi Kusama, the avant-garde artist known worldwide for her polka dot and net-patterned works, passed away on August 14, 2026, at a hospital in Tokyo. She was 97 years old. The cause of death was announced as multiple organ failure.

【2026】「水玉の女王」草間彌生さん死去｜97歳・死因・追悼まとめ

Yayoi Kusama's death was announced on August 27, 2026, when the Yayoi Kusama Studio and the Yayoi Kusama Museum jointly posted a notice on their official website titled "Announcement of the Passing of Yayoi Kusama." The announcement stated, "She dedicated everything to her international activities as an avant-garde artist in many fields, including art, performance, novels, and poetry, and lived a 97-year life in which she continued to explore eternal love and soul, never letting go of her paintbrush until just before her death."

👉 Yayoi Kusama Museum Official Website

According to sources at her agency, Kusama continued to paint in her hospital room until July 2026, while she was recuperating. The funeral will be held privately with only close family members in attendance, and a memorial service will be held at a later date. The date and other details will be announced on the official website.

2. The Journey of Yayoi Kusama, the "Queen of Polka Dots"

Yayoi Kusama was born on March 22, 1929, in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. From a young age, she experienced hallucinations, delusions, and auditory hallucinations, and it is said that she began drawing polka dots and nets around the age of 10. These personal experiences became the origin of the polka dots and nets that would become her lifelong motifs.

After studying Japanese painting at the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, he moved to the United States in 1957 in search of a more free creative environment. Based in New York, he successively produced innovative works such as "net painting" which involves repeating mesh patterns, "soft sculpture" which involves stuffing cloth, and installations using mirrors and electric lights. He established an artistic philosophy of "self-annihilation," in which the self disappears by repeating and multiplying a single motif.

In the late 1960s, against the backdrop of the rise of hippie culture, he attracted attention with "happenings," nude performances that advocated for sexual liberation and other themes. In 1966, he presented "Narcissus's Garden" at the 33rd Venice Biennale.

After that, his health deteriorated, and he returned to Japan in 1973. He also took up writing poetry and novels.

year	Main Events
1929	Born in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture
1957	Moved to the United States and based her activities in New York.
1966	Presenting "Narcissus's Garden" at the Venice Biennale
1973	Returning home
1993	To the representative of the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
2017	Yayoi Kusama Museum opens
2026	Died on August 14th (age 97)

3. Global Recognition and Collaboration with Louis Vuitton

After returning to Japan, he temporarily withdrew from the media spotlight, but a retrospective exhibition held in the United States in 1989 sparked a re-evaluation of his work. In 1993, he was selected to represent Japan at the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, and in 1998, he held a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, establishing his international reputation.

In the 2010s, touring exhibitions were held one after another in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, sparking a global "KUSAMA" boom. In Japan, a large-scale solo exhibition was held at the National Art Center, Tokyo in Roppongi in 2017, attracting approximately 520,000 visitors. Also in 2017, the Yayoi Kusama Museum, showcasing her works, opened in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

His creative work continued until his later years, and from 2009 he worked on the large-scale painting series "My Eternal Soul," producing approximately 900 works over about 12 years. In 2021, he began working on a new painting series, "Praying for Love Every Day."

The release of products in collaboration with the luxury brand Louis Vuitton also generated a great deal of buzz, and Kusama's polka dots have spread far beyond the realm of art. Her awards include the French Order of Arts and Letters (Officer) in 2003, the Person of Cultural Merit in 2009, and the Order of Culture in 2016. Her published works include the autobiography "Infinite Net," the poetry collection "Such Melancholy," and the novel "Christopher's Brothel."

4. Tributes from various fields, including Shingo Katori

Upon hearing of his passing, condolences have poured in from all walks of life.

Actor and singer Shingo Katori has maintained contact with Yayoi Kusama since their conversation for a magazine project in 2013. Katori recalled, "When I had the opportunity to talk with Ms. Kusama at her studio, she continued to paint the entire time we were talking. She said that no matter how much she painted, there was never enough time. She taught me the importance of continuing to paint within a limited amount of time." He then released a statement saying, "I will also try to keep painting. Thank you so much, Ms. Kusama."

5. Museum Response | Matsumoto City Museum of Art / Yayoi Kusama Museum

The Matsumoto City Museum of Art in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Yayoi Kusama's hometown, posted a statement of condolence on its official website on August 27, 2026. Matsumoto City will mourn her passing and will set up a memorial altar from August 28 to August 30, 2026. During the same period, the special exhibition "Yayoi Kusama: Where the Soul Resides" will be open to Matsumoto citizens free of charge.

The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Shinjuku, Tokyo, has also announced her passing on its official website. The museum is scheduled to close from August 31, 2026 to October 7, 2026 for exhibit changes.

facility	correspondence
Matsumoto City Museum of Art	Condolences expressed on the official website.
Matsumoto City	A memorial altar will be set up from August 28th to August 30th, 2026, and a special exhibition will be open to the public free of charge.
Yayoi Kusama Museum	The official website announced the death, and the museum will be closed from August 31, 2026 to October 7, 2026 (tentative).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What was the cause of death of Yayoi Kusama?

A. The cause of death was reported as multiple organ failure. He passed away on August 14, 2026, at a hospital in Tokyo.

Q2. At what age did they pass away?

A. He was 97 years old. He was born on March 22, 1929.

Q3. Will there be a memorial service?

A. The funeral will be held privately with only close relatives in attendance, and a memorial service will be held at a later date. The date and time will be announced on the official website.