It is with profound sadness that Ota Fine Arts announces the passing of Yayoi Kusama, an artist whom the gallery had the privilege of representing, on 14 August 2026.
In accordance with the wishes of her family, a private funeral service was held for close relatives only. A memorial gathering is planned for a later date, and further details will be announced in due course.
Kusama enjoyed international acclaim across a remarkable range of fields, extending beyond the visual arts to fiction and poetry. She devoted her entire life to the pursuit of artistic expression and continued to paint from her hospital room until just recently. It has been one of the great honors of Ota Fine Arts to have accompanied her extraordinary artistic journey.
I first had the privilege of working with Kusama in 1988 while at Fuji TV Gallery. Following my independence in 1991, and through to the present day, I was fortunate to continue our longstanding relationship as her representative. To have helped bring her unparalleled artistic vision to audiences around the world has been an irreplaceable part of my life.
We extend our deepest gratitude for the kindness and support shown to Kusama throughout her lifetime, and offer our heartfelt condolences as we mourn her passing. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to all those who supported her and her work throughout her life.
Kusama’s major retrospective, which opened last year at Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland, is currently touring Europe. The exhibition will open at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam on 11 September. We hope that many people will have the opportunity to experience and celebrate the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind.
Hidenori Ota
Founder & President
Ota Fine Arts
