he Stedelijk Museum announced a landmark retrospective of Yayoi Kusama, one of the most influential and pioneering artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Opening on September 11, 2026, this expansive exhibition will explore more than seven decades of Kusama’s groundbreaking work. The exhibition will delve into the wide range of artistic media Kusama has worked with over the years, including painting, sculpture, installations, drawing, fashion, collage, happenings, live performances, and more.
Yayoi Kusama (born 1929) is internationally renowned for her exploration of themes such as infinity, self-obliteration, and repetition. Her distinctive use of polka dots, mirror rooms, and immersive installations has become emblematic of her artistic vision. Kusama’s work invites viewers into dynamic environments that blur the boundaries between the observer and the infinite, challenging perceptions of space and the self. One of the highlights of the exhibition will be a specially created new version of her iconic installations, which embodies these central themes.
Rein Wolfs, director Stedelijk Museum: "Yayoi Kusama is an artist who compels us to see the world through a different lens. Even at her advanced age, she continues to captivate audiences, drawing in visitors of all generations with her mesmerizing creations. This exhibition promises to be a feast for the eyes where one can truly lose themselves in her extraordinary art."
Starting her career in Japan in the early 1950s, Kusama later moved to New York, where she became a key figure in avant-garde movements in the 1960s. Her art spans multiple disciplines, including painting, sculpture, performance, fashion, and literature, continually pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. This retrospective will trace her remarkable evolution, from her early works in Matsumoto, Japan, to her innovative creations in New York, and her most recent productions from Tokyo. In addition to her most iconic pieces, the exhibition will also feature historic works never before shown in Europe, as well as new works created specifically for this occasion.
The show emphasizes Kusama’s lasting relevance and her remarkable influence worldwide. The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Fondation Beyeler in Basel (October 12, 2025 – January 25, 2026) and Museum Ludwig in Cologne (March 14, 2026 – August 2, 2026). The exhibition at the Stedelijk runs from September 11, 2026 until January 17, 2027.
Main Image: Yayoi Kusama in Yellow Tree / Living Room tijdens de Aichi Triennale in 2010 © YAYOI KUSAMA. Met dank aan Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, David Zwirner.
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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