Image: QAGOMA, Brisbane
QAGOMA has mourned the loss of pioneering artist Yayoi Kusama, who passed away on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97. Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama was described by QAGOMA as one of the most distinctive, influential and loved artists of her generation.
QAGOMA says the works discussed in its account have each become globally celebrated, major works by Kusama and some of the most popular works in the institution’s Collection. Created for the Gallery’s Children’s Art Centre, ‘Obliteration Room’ 2002 invited visitors to cover an entirely white domestic interior with coloured dots.
Kusama’s permanent public artwork ‘Eyes Are Singing Out’ 2012–13 remains on permanent public view as a striking feature of Brisbane’s city centre. The remembrance also identifies ‘Infinity Nets’ 2000 as having entered the QAGOMA Collection in 2001.
Kusama was the subject of two of QAGOMA’s solo artist exhibitions: ‘Look Now, See Forever’ in 2011–12 and ‘Life Is the Heart of a Rainbow’ in 2017–18. QAGOMA says she remains the only international artist to have been the featured artist in two of its solo exhibitions.
Kusama was invited to present her work as one of the central artists in ‘The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 2002’.
