Yayoi Kusama’s Final Interview Reveals Artistic Essence

Yayoi Kusama’s Last Interview Sheds New Light on Her Artistic Drive

Yayoi Kusama’s final unpublished interview, conducted in September 2025 ahead of her major retrospective exhibitions in Basel, Cologne, and Amsterdam, reveals her unwavering dedication to art as a way of life. The legendary artist, who passed away recently at age 97, spoke candidly about the continuous flow of ideas in her consciousness and her refusal to separate daily life from creative work. This intimate conversation provides a rare glimpse into the mindset behind her globally acclaimed oeuvre, including her famed Infinity Mirror Rooms and pumpkin motifs.

The interview was organized by the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, where the retrospective debuted in October 2025, before traveling to Museum Ludwig in Cologne in March 2026 and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in September 2026. Kusama’s final works will be showcased in a solo exhibition at David Zwirner gallery in New York in spring 2027, further cementing her enduring legacy.

Infinity Mirror Rooms: From 1965 Origins to Global Fame

Kusama created her first Infinity Mirror Room, titled Infinity Mirror Room—Phalli’s Field, in 1965, marking the beginning of a series that would captivate audiences worldwide. However, her international fame surged decades later during the 2010s, notably after her 2012 Tate Modern retrospective coincided with Instagram’s rise, making her immersive installations a social media phenomenon. Visitors often queue for hours to experience the few seconds inside these dazzling spaces that evoke endless reflections and cosmic wonder.

In 2017, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. curated a survey of Kusama’s Infinity Rooms, which toured major cities including Seattle, Los Angeles, Toronto, Cleveland, and Atlanta. This exhibition highlighted the conceptual depth of the series and its ability to mirror Kusama’s inner universe back to viewers, reinforcing her status as a transformative figure in contemporary art.

Comprehensive Retrospective Highlights Kusama’s Radical Philosophy

While the Infinity Mirror Rooms garnered widespread acclaim, curators Doryun Chong and Mika Yoshitake aimed to broaden the understanding of Kusama’s work through the 2022 exhibition “Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now” at M+ in Hong Kong. This show traced her artistic evolution from early ‘Infinity Net’ paintings inspired by the Pacific Ocean in 1957, through her provocative 1960s New York happenings, to later fashion collaborations and sculpture.

The exhibition emphasized Kusama’s concept of “self-obliteration,” a radical philosophy that envisions humans blending into the infinite universe by recognizing the finite nature of the self and its interconnectedness with all things. According to M+ assistant curator Kary Woo, this understanding allows for rebirth in love and equality, themes that permeate Kusama’s expansive body of work.

Art as a Lifelong Quest for Truth and Connection

In her final interview, Kusama described her creative process as a relentless pursuit of truth and a means to instill dignity, vitality, and humanity in her work. She recounted how her artistic journey began in childhood, with a powerful desire to paint by age ten, and evolved organically across diverse media including painting, sculpture, film, and literature.

Despite early struggles in the male-dominated art world of mid-20th-century New York, Kusama’s persistence allowed her to cultivate a unique artistic stance. She emphasized that her art bridges people globally through ideals of love and peace, advocating a creativity-driven philosophy to confront global crises, overcome prejudice, and foster human connection.

Legacy and Upcoming Exhibitions Extend Kusama’s Influence

Following her death, Kusama’s influence continues to grow through major museum retrospectives and gallery shows. The Fondation Beyeler’s exhibition (October 2025–January 2026) and subsequent shows at Museum Ludwig and the Stedelijk Museum have introduced new generations to the full scope of her work, beyond the popular Infinity Rooms.

David Zwirner gallery’s forthcoming 2027 solo exhibition of Kusama’s final works promises to offer further insight into her late creative explorations. Kusama’s art remains a beacon of hope and a call for love and equality, resonating deeply in today’s complex global landscape.

Takeaway: Kusama’s final interview reveals an artist whose lifelong devotion to art was inseparable from life itself, underscoring her enduring impact on contemporary art and global culture.