Yayoi Kusama: How Art Became Her Lifeline

Yayoi Kusama: How Art Became Her Lifeline

Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama began creating art at a young age and has continued to do so for over seven decades. Kusama's career as an artist began in the 1950s, when she moved to New York City to study art. While living in New York, Kusama became heavily influenced by the Abstract Expressionist movement and began incorporating elements of this style into her own work. She also began using dots as a recurring motif in her paintings, sculptures, and installations.


Yayoi Kusama is a world-renowned artist who is known for her immersive and mesmerizing installations, as well as her signature polka dot motifs. But what many people may not know is that Kusama has struggled with mental illness for most of her life. Kusama developed obsessive-compulsive disorder and hallucinations at a young age. These experiences became the driving force behind her art, which she used as a way to cope with her mental health struggles.

"My art originates from hallucinations only I can see."

Kusama's art is characterized by its repetition, symmetry, and use of vibrant colors and patterns. She often uses mirrors and other reflective surfaces to create a sense of infinity, which has been described as a way of escaping the constraints of her own mind. Kusama's use of dots has come to be one of her most defining features, and has been interpreted in a variety of ways by art critics and scholars. Some see the dots as representing the interconnectedness of all things, while others view them as a way to represent infinity or the universe. Whatever the interpretation, Kusama's dots have become a symbol of her artistic style and have contributed to her worldwide fame.


In addition to her work with dots, Kusama is also known for her immersive installations, which often feature mirrored rooms and large-scale sculptures covered in dots. These installations have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and have garnered significant attention from both the art world and the general public.

"My life is a dot lost among thousands of other dots."

"Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with the ax of art."

One of Kusama's most famous works is "Infinity Mirrored Room," a series of installations in which visitors can walk through a room filled with mirrored walls and floating LED lights. These immersive environments have been praised for their ability to transport visitors to another realm, a place where they can temporarily escape their own reality.


Kusama has said that her art is a way for her to process and make sense of her mental health struggles. It has become a lifeline for her, a way to channel her thoughts and emotions into something beautiful and meaningful.

In addition to her mental health struggles, Kusama has also faced discrimination as a female artist. Despite her talent and contributions to the art world, Kusama has often been overshadowed by her male contemporaries and has had to fight for recognition. However, she has persevered and has become a role model for other female artists, proving that it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve success in a male-dominated field. Despite the challenges she has faced, Kusama has continued to create groundbreaking art for over 70 years. She is an inspiration to many, a testament to the power of art as a form of healing and self-expression.



In a world that often stigmatizes mental illness, Kusama's story is a reminder that it is possible to find hope and meaning even in the darkest of times. Through her art, she has been able to transcend her own struggles and create something beautiful that resonates with people all over the world.


"I fight pain, anxiety, and fear every day, and the only method I have found that relieves my illness is to keep creating art. I followed the thread of art and somehow discovered a path that would allow me to live."