YAYOI KUSAMA

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist working primarily in sculpture and installation, but active in many areas of painting, performance, video art, fashion and poetry. She has been acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan.

Kusama was raised in Matsumoto, and trained at the Kyoto City University of Arts in a traditional Japanese style of painting called Nihonga. She was however, inspired by American Abstract impressionism. Moved to New York in 1958 and became part of the avant-garde scene in the 1960s. 

She covered surfaces with polka dots or "infinity nests" as she called them, and they would become a trademark of her work.

She once stated, "A polka dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colourful, senseless and unknowing. Polka dots become movement...Polka dots are a way to infinity."

Recent works have sold at auction for over 5 million dollars. The highest ever paid for a female artist. She continues to create and amaze.

You can find a homage to the artist in the form of a hand silk screened tea towel called Calico Cat  designed and made by Naked Decor.