In memory of Yayoi Kusama, 1929–2026

The dots were never decorative. They were a survival mechanism. The hallucinations began at ten. Painting became how she held reality together. She arrived in New York in 1957 and out-radicalised everyone. Infinity Nets anticipated minimalism. Her public "Happenings" made her a performance art pioneer. She accused Warhol of copying her. She was probably right. Fashion was never a sideline. In 1968, she founded her own fashion company. Then came Louis Vuitton twice, in 2012 and 2023. Here's the tension: when an artist's vision becomes that recognisable, does the original compulsion survive? Her dots ended up on handbags and T-shirts. She understood the paradox. She once called herself "one polka dot among many." She never stopped painting. And now that she's gone, we're left with a legacy that transcends galleries. She didn't just collaborate with fashion, she redefined what an artist could be in the commercial world. Louis Vuitton called her "one of the greatest artists of contemporary art," whose "influence on art and culture is immeasurable." Her dots covered storefronts and handbags, and shaped a generation's imagination. When you see the dots now, do you see the artist, or the accessory? 👇 Explore more inspiration stories on #reversible .