11 - YAYOI KUSAMA (Matsumoto, 1929 – Tokyo, 2026).

YAYOI KUSAMA (Matsumoto, 1929 – Tokyo, 2026). "Yellow Pumpkin," 2015. Hand-painted cast resin. Open edition. With “© YAYOI KUSAMA” copyright stamp on the base. Published by Benesse Holdings, Inc., Naoshima, Japan. Comes with its original presentation box. Provenance: private collection, Japan. Measurements: 10 x 8.5 x 8.5 cm. This sculptural multiple brings together two of the most iconic motifs in Yayoi Kusama’s universe: the pumpkin and the proliferation of polka dots. The intense yellow is dotted with black spots of varying sizes that conform to the lobes of the fruit, simultaneously accentuating its volume and the repetitive effect characteristic of the artist’s visual language. The connection to Naoshima is particularly significant. It was there that Kusama’s monumental yellow and black *Pumpkin* was installed in 1994, conceived specifically for the seaside landscape of the Benesse Art Site and later becoming one of the most recognizable images in her body of work. The pumpkin has been a constant presence in Kusama’s life since her childhood and eventually took on an almost autobiographical character in her work. The artist has repeatedly depicted it in paintings, prints, sculptures, and installations, combining its organic form with the polka dots and nets that articulate her exploration of repetition and proliferation. In 1993, the installation *Mirror Room (Pumpkin)* took center stage in her official participation in the Japanese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, a pivotal event for her international recognition. Yayoi Kusama was one of the leading figures of the international avant-garde in the second half of the 20th century and the early 21st century. After moving to the United States in 1957, she developed her Infinity Nets, soft sculptures, happenings, and installations featuring mirrors and light in New York, formulating her concept of “self-obliteration” through the obsessive repetition of motifs. She received the Praemium Imperiale in 2006 and the Order of Culture of Japan in 2016, and was the subject of major exhibitions at institutions such as the Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou, and M+. The Yayoi Kusama Museum opened its doors in Tokyo in 2017. The artist passed away in Tokyo on August 14, 2026.