Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama creating the My Eternal Soul series in her studio.© YAYOI KUSAMA. Courtesy David Zwirner, Ota Fine Arts

September 4, 2026

Where you can see late artist Yayoi Kusama’s work in NYC

Yayoi Kusama, the iconic Japanese artist known for her distinctive polka dot style, pumpkin sculptures, and infinity mirror rooms, died on August 14 at the age of 97. Born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929, Kusama lived in New York City from the late 1950s through 1975, where she established herself as an avant-garde artist through "groundbreaking performances, happenings, events, and exhibitions," according to David Zwirner, who represented her since 2013. While her work has been recognized for decades globally, Kusama's legacy in New York City will be especially remembered, from her early "Infinity Room" series to more recent exhibitions at the New York Botanical Garden and mosaics at Grand Central.
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Yayoi Kusama’s upcoming NYC show includes new infinity room

2019 Infinity Mirror Room; Photo by Tracie Hall on Flickr

March 17, 2023

Yayoi Kusama’s upcoming NYC show includes new infinity room

By Aaron Ginsburg

World-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama will unveil new works in New York City this summer at her largest gallery exhibition yet. The exhibition, called "Yayoi Kusama: I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers," includes new paintings, her signature pumpkin and flower sculptures, and a new edition of Kusama's super popular Infinity Mirror Room. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, opens on May 12 at David Zwirner's West 19th and West 20th Street galleries in Chelsea.
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MTA unveils stunning mosaics by Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith inside the new Grand Central Madison

Yayoi Kusama, “A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe, 2022.” Photo by Kerry McFate ©YAYOI KUSAMA Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, David Zwirner

December 7, 2022

MTA unveils stunning mosaics by Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith inside the new Grand Central Madison

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week unveiled new permanent floor-to-ceiling mosaics at the soon-to-open Grand Central Madison terminal, adding to the impressive and expansive public art portfolio found across New York City's transit system. The glass mosaics designed by renowned contemporary artists Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith animate the new terminal, which when it opens later this month, will bring Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal.
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Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith to create floor-to-ceiling mosaics at new Grand Central Madison terminal

Yayoi Kusama, 2020 Photo by Yusuke Miyazaki © YAYOI KUSAA Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, David Zwirner

October 17, 2022

Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith to create floor-to-ceiling mosaics at new Grand Central Madison terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has tapped two contemporary artists to create permanent artwork for the long-awaited 700,000-square-foot Long Island Rail Road terminal opening at Grand Central this year. MTA Arts & Design, the agency responsible for commissioning public art in subway stations, announced artists Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith will design site-specific floor-to-ceiling mosaics for the new terminal, dubbed Grand Central Madison.
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Another Yayoi Kusama exhibition will be on view in NYC this summer

Yayoi Kusama, 2020 Photo by Yusuke Miyazaki © YAYOI KUSAA Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, David Zwirner

April 20, 2021

Another Yayoi Kusama exhibition will be on view in NYC this summer

By Devin Gannon

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's popular polka-dot pumpkins and grand floral sculptures have taken over the New York Botanical Garden this month as part of a new six-month installation. This summer, an exhibition featuring new paintings by the celebrated artist will open in Chelsea, providing New Yorkers another opportunity to enjoy Kusama's iconic work. Starting June 17, David Zwirner will display the latest art from her ongoing My Eternal Soul series, which first began in 2009.
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Dancing Pumpkin, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts and David Zwirner

April 8, 2021

See inside the New York Botanical Garden’s blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition

By Dana Schulz

This Saturday, April 10, the New York Botanical Garden's hotly-anticipated exhibit KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature will open to the public and remain on view through October 31, 2021. The blockbuster show dedicated to legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama was originally planned to open in May 2020, but of course, was postponed due to the pandemic. Among the works on view are Kusama's famous polka-dot pumpkins, her larger-than-life flowers, and the famous Narcissus Garden, composed of 1,400 stainless steel spheres floating on water.
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New York Botanical Garden announces new dates for Yayoi Kusama exhibition

Kusama with Pumpkin, 2010 © YAYOI KUSAMA. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore / Shanghai; Victoria Miro, London; David Zwirner, New York

February 2, 2021

New York Botanical Garden announces new dates for Yayoi Kusama exhibition

By 6sqft

The New York Botanical Garden was scheduled to hold a blockbuster exhibition dedicated to Yayoi Kusama last spring, but sadly had to postpone the event when the pandemic hit. But they've now announced new 2021 dates for KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature--the show will run from Saturday, April 10 to Sunday, October 31, 2021 with tickets going on sale to the general public on March 16. The exhibition will immerse us in the Japanese artist’s visionary world through a career-spanning survey, the debut of four new works, and a variety of complementary horticultural installations created by the Garden’s team.
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Image: Business Wire

October 28, 2019

Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Love Flies Up to the Sky’ balloon to join Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

By Michelle Cohen

Work by Yayoi Kusama, the celebrated contemporary artist who gave us those famous polka-dot pumpkins and insanely popular Infinity Rooms, will be brightening the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Japanese artist's creation, “Love Flies Up to the Sky,” will be part of the parade's Blue Sky Gallery, a series of balloons that reflect art from the world's best-known contemporary artists.
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Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot pumpkins are coming to the New York Botanical Garden

Kusama with Pumpkin, 2010 ©YAYOI KUSAMA. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore / Shanghai; Victoria Miro, London; David Zwirner, New York

July 9, 2019

Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot pumpkins are coming to the New York Botanical Garden

By Alexandra Alexa

Over the next year, celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama will have a big moment in New York City. In addition to the forthcoming exhibition at David Zwirner Gallery this fall—which will include some of the artist’s insanely popular Infinity Rooms—the New York Botanical Garden has just revealed that its blockbuster 2020 exhibition will be dedicated to Kusama. The exclusive show will include a range of works, old and new, that shed light on the artist’s lifelong engagement with nature, including everything from her famous polka-dot pumpkins to her signature Infinity Rooms.
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Yayoi Kusama’s insanely popular infinity rooms return to New York this fall

Image via Flickr

June 24, 2019

Yayoi Kusama’s insanely popular infinity rooms return to New York this fall

By Alexandra Alexa

When Yayoi Kusama last took over David Zwirner Gallery with one of her Infinity Mirror Room installations in 2017, over 75,000 people flocked to experience the awe-inspiring (and very selfie-friendly) exhibition. At times during its 80-day run, the show was so popular that visits were limited to 60 seconds and wait times reached six hours. If you weren't one of the lucky ones then, you'll get another chance this fall when a new exhibition dedicated to the artist's work opens at David Zwirner on November 9, as Time Out reported.
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Check out artist Yayoi Kusama’s installation in an abandoned Rockaway train garage

By Michelle Cohen

6sqft previously reported on the arrival of “Narcissus Garden,” a site-specific installation made up of 1,500 mirrored stainless steel spheres by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama as MOMA PS1's third installment of“Rockaway!,” a free biannual public art program dedicated to the ongoing recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy. The completely mesmerizing installation is now on view from July 01-September 03, 2018 at Fort Tilden in the Gateway National Recreation Area, in a former train garage that once was an active U.S. military base. Kusama’s mirrored metal spheres reflect the industrial surroundings of the abandoned building and highlight Fort Tilden’s history. According to MoMA, the metal directs attention to the damage inflicted by Sandy in 2012 on the surrounding area.
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June 18, 2018

Yayoi Kusama is bringing 1,500 mirrored spheres to the Rockaways this summer

By Michelle Sinclair Colman

Yayoi Kusama at the 1966 Venice Biennale; via MOMA PS1 Yayoi is coming back to New York. From July 1 through September 3, MoMA PS1 will present "Rockaway!" featuring "Narcissus Garden," a site-specific installation made up of 1,500 mirrored stainless steel spheres by the uber-talented, polka dot-obsessed Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. This is MOMA’s third iteration of Rockaway!, a free public art festival dedicated to the ongoing recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy. The exhibit will be on view at the Gateway National Recreation Area, a former train garage at Fort Tilden, which once was an active U.S. military base. Kusama’s mirrored metal spheres reflect the industrial surroundings of the abandoned building and highlight Fort Tilden’s history. According to MoMA, the metal directs attention to the damage inflicted by Sandy in 2012 on the surrounding area.
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November 20, 2017

NYC’s best art installations and exhibits to get you in the holiday spirit

By Lori Zimmer

The holiday season in New York is one of the most magical times, packed with lots of events to perpetuate the experience. Aside from ice skating, holiday-themed bars, and the tree at Rockefeller Center, be sure to tuck into these art exhibitions and events to get you into the spirit! From old standbys like the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show to contemporary offerings like Yayoi Kusama's glittering installations in Chelsea and Erwin Redl's haunting field of glowing orbs at Madison Square Park, we've rounded up the 14 best must-see artsy exhibits this year.
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May 26, 2015

Yayoi Kusama’s Polka Dot-Covered ‘Obliteration Room’ Shows for the First Time in the U.S.

By Dana Schulz

This picture may look familiar to you, as the installation at the David Zwirner Gallery has been making the rounds on Instagram. The work of artist Yayoi Kasuma, "The Obliteration Room" is part of the larger exhibit "Give Me Love." It's the first time the wildly popular polka dot-covered room has been shown in the U.S., and New Yorkers are excited to be part of the interactive experience. The backdrop for "The Obliteration Room" is an all-white, familiar domestic setting located within a prefabricated suburban home. As guests enter the room they're handed stickers, round dots in various sizes and bright colors, and asked to place them anywhere they'd like.
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