Yayoi Kusama’s Work

I don’t think I can even properly explain how big of a deal this was for me.

Yayoi Kusama has been my favorite artist for years. The polka dots. The pumpkins. The bold color. She’s one of those artists who made me feel like being bold and visually loud is powerful. So walking into the Buffalo AKG Art Museumand seeing her work in real life felt surreal.

Her pumpkin? Even better in person. The scale. The color. The dots wrapping perfectly around the form. There’s something about her pumpkins that feels childlike and wise at the same time. You can’t look at them without smiling.

And then the installations, stepping into those mirrored spaces, watching the dots repeat endlessly, it messes with your sense of space in the best way. It’s immersive but simple. Repetitive but hypnotic.

What I love most about Kusama is that she took something as simple as a polka dot and turned it into a language. A whole world.

The museum itself made the day even better. Walking through galleries with works by artists like Andy Warhol and George Segal added even more depth to the experience. But truly, seeing Kusama in person reminded me why I love art in the first place. It reminded me that you can build an entire legacy out of one strong visual idea if you believe in it enough.

Some of my favorite quotes from her are…

“I, Kusama, am the modern Alice in Wonderland.” - Yayoi Kusama

“Polka dots are a way to infinity.” - Yayoi Kusama

“I am just another dot in the world.” - Yayoi Kusama