Yayoi Kusama
Jul 12–Sep 30, 2012
Yayoi Kusama in Yellow Tree furniture room at Aich triennale, Nagoya, Japan, 2010 (detail). © Yayoi Kusama. Image courtesy Yayoi Kusma Studio Inc.; Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo; Victoria Miro Gallery, London; and Gagosian Gallery New York
Yayoi Kusama in Yellow Tree furniture room at Aich triennale, Nagoya, Japan, 2010 (detail). © Yayoi Kusama. Image courtesy Yayoi Kusma Studio Inc.; Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo; Victoria Miro Gallery, London; and Gagosian Gallery New York
Well known for her use of dense patterns of polka dots and nets, as well as her intense, large-scale environments, Yayoi Kusama works in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, performance, and immersive installation. Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama came to the United States in 1957 and quickly found herself at the epicenter of the New York avant-garde. After achieving fame through groundbreaking exhibitions and art “happenings,” she returned to her native country in 1973 and is now one of Japan’s most prominent contemporary artists. This retrospective features works spanning Kusama’s career.
Kusama’s Fireflies on the Water is being shown in the Museum’s Lobby Gallery in conjunction with the Yayoi Kusama retrospective. Timed tickets are required to view Fireflies on the Water and can only be reserved on the day of your visit at the admission desk.
This exhibition is organized in collaboration with Tate Modern, London.
Supported by
Additional support for the Whitney’s presentation of Yayoi Kusama is provided by Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein, The Gage Fund, Susan Hancock/Royal T, the Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation, the Asian Cultural Council, The Japan Foundation, New York, and Linda and Andrew Safran.
With thanks to Victoria Miro Gallery, London; Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo; and Yayoi Kusama Studio, Inc. for their support of the international tour of the Yayoi Kusama exhibition.
Additional thanks to Gagosian Gallery for their assistance with the Yayoi Kusama exhibition in New York.
Works from the Exhibition
Installation Photography
In celebration of her retrospective at the Whitney Museum, Yayoi Kusama transformed two downtown Manhattan sites near the Whitney’s future home in the Meatpacking District.
On view through October 15, Kusama's Yellow Trees building wrap transforms a tall building into a giant canvas. The scrim at 345 West 14th Street at 9th Avenue features a detail of the original painting Yellow Trees (1994), greatly enlarged so that its powerful sinuous patterns envelop the new twelve-story construction project.
From early summer through September 25, visitors to Hudson River Park's Pier 45 enjoyed Kusama's vibrant multi-part installation, Guidepost to the New Space. Bright red polka-dotted forms nestled in the grass like a herd of otherworldly abstractions, transforming the pier and its spectacular urban skyline.
Support for Yellow Trees provided by DDG Partners. Support for Guidepost to the New Space provided by Gagosian Gallery New York and Hudson River Park Trust.
In celebration of her retrospective at the Whitney Museum, Yayoi Kusama transformed two downtown Manhattan sites near the Whitney’s future home in the Meatpacking District.
On view through October 15, Kusama's Yellow Trees building wrap transforms a tall building into a giant canvas. The scrim at 345 West 14th Street at 9th Avenue features a detail of the original painting Yellow Trees (1994), greatly enlarged so that its powerful sinuous patterns envelop the new twelve-story construction project.
From early summer through September 25, visitors to Hudson River Park's Pier 45 enjoyed Kusama's vibrant multi-part installation, Guidepost to the New Space. Bright red polka-dotted forms nestled in the grass like a herd of otherworldly abstractions, transforming the pier and its spectacular urban skyline.
Support for Yellow Trees provided by DDG Partners. Support for Guidepost to the New Space provided by Gagosian Gallery New York and Hudson River Park Trust.
Events
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Sun,
Sep 30
Members-only Viewing Hours
6:30–8:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 30
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 30
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 30
Members-only Viewing Hours
10–11 am
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Sat,
Sep 29
Members-only Viewing Hours
6:30–8:30 pm
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Sat,
Sep 29
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sat,
Sep 29
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Sep 29
Open Studio: Yayoi Kusama
1–3 pm
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Sat,
Sep 29
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sat,
Sep 29
Members-only Viewing Hours
10–11 am
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Fri,
Sep 28
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Sep 28
ASL Tour:
Yayoi Kusama6 pm
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Fri,
Sep 28
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Fri,
Sep 28
Yayoi Kusama
12–1 pm
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Thu,
Sep 27
Members-only Viewing Hours
6:30–8:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 27
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 27
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 27
Members-only Viewing Hours
10–11 am
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Wed,
Sep 26
Members-only Viewing Hours
6:30–8:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 26
Members-only Viewing Hours
10–11 am
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Sun,
Sep 23
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 23
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Sep 22
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Sep 22
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Fri,
Sep 21
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Sep 21
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 20
Verbal Description and Touch Tour:
Yayoi Kusama5:30–7:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 20
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 20
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 19
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 19
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 19
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Sep 16
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 16
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Sep 15
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Sep 15
Open Studio: Yayoi Kusama
1–3 pm
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Sat,
Sep 15
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Fri,
Sep 14
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Sep 14
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Fri,
Sep 14
Yayoi Kusama
12–1 pm
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Thu,
Sep 13
Obsess, Create, and Repeat: Obsession and the Creative Process
7 pm
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Thu,
Sep 13
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 13
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 12
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 12
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 12
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Sep 9
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 9
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Sep 8
Whitney Signs:
Yayoi Kusama3 pm
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Sat,
Sep 8
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Sep 8
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sat,
Sep 8
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Fri,
Sep 7
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Sep 7
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 6
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Sep 6
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 5Staging the Self: A Discussion about the Work of Yayoi Kusama and Sharon Hayes
6 pm
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Wed,
Sep 5
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 5
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Sep 5
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Sep 2
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Sep 2
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Sep 1
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Fri,
Aug 31
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 31
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 30
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 30
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 29
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 29
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 29
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Aug 26
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Aug 26
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Aug 25
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Fri,
Aug 24
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 24
ASL Tour:
Yayoi Kusama6 pm
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Fri,
Aug 24
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 23
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 23
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 22
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 22
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 22
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Aug 19
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Aug 19
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Aug 18
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Aug 18
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Fri,
Aug 17
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 17
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 16
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 16
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 15
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 15
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 15
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Aug 12
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Aug 12
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Aug 11
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Aug 11
Open Studio: Totally Stuffed!
1–3 pm
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Sat,
Aug 11
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sat,
Aug 11
Family Fun Art Workshop: Infinite Possibilities
10:30 am–12:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 10
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 10
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 10
Yayoi Kusama
12–1 pm
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Thu,
Aug 9
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 9
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 8
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 8
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 8
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Aug 5
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Aug 5
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Aug 4
Whitney Signs:
Yayoi Kusama3 pm
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Sat,
Aug 4
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Aug 4
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Fri,
Aug 3
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 3
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Fri,
Aug 3
Verbal Description and Touch Tour:
Yayoi Kusama11 am–12:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 2
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Aug 2
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 1
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 1
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Aug 1
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Wed,
Aug 1
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Jul 29
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sun,
Jul 29
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Sat,
Jul 28
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Jul 28
Yayoi Kusama Tour and Art-Making Workshop for Teens
1–4 pm
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Sat,
Jul 28
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Fri,
Jul 27
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Jul 27
Julianne Swartz: Tactile Sound Accumulation
7 pm
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Fri,
Jul 27
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Jul 26
Yayoi Kusama
2:30 pm
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Thu,
Jul 26
Yayoi Kusama
12:30 pm
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Wed,
Jul 25
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Wed,
Jul 25
Yayoi Kusama
1:30 pm
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Wed,
Jul 25
Yayoi Kusama
11:30 am
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Sun,
Jul 22
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sat,
Jul 21
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Sat,
Jul 21
Open Studio: Obliteration Station
1–3 pm
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Sat,
Jul 21
Family Fun Art Workshop: It’s a Pile Up!
10:30 am–12:30 pm
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Fri,
Jul 20
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Fri,
Jul 20
Yayoi Kusama
12–1 pm
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Wed,
Jul 18Reception and Gallery Talk: Yayoi Kusama
7–9 pm
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Sun,
Jul 15
Yayoi Kusama
3:30 pm
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Sat,
Jul 14
Member Saturday Night
6:30–8:30 pm
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Sat,
Jul 14
Yayoi Kusama
2 pm
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Fri,
Jul 13
Yayoi Kusama
7:30 pm
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Wed,
Jul 11Opening Reception for Summer Exhibitions
7–9 pm
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Wed,
Jul 11Member Preview Day: Yayoi Kusama
12–6 pm
Watch
Hear From Artists
This audio guide features selected works from Yayoi Kusama and the artist's installation, Fireflies on the Water.
In the News
Review: “Vivid Hallucinations From a Fragile Life”
—The New York Times
"[Kusama's] works are triumphant, humorous celebrations of potential, vulnerability and defiance"
—The Boston Globe
Interview: "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotted Mind"
—Bullett
"Kusama’s is a wonderful behind-the-music story, the outsider with destiny in her sights, who moves to the big city to prove herself, then collapses under the strain of striving, only to stage a comeback, bigger than ever."
—New York Magazine
Video: Mo Rocca interviews Yayoi Kusama
—CBS Sunday Morning
"Fame Becomes Her"
—W Magazine