How did Yayoi Kusama develop her art career?

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist known for use of polka dots and repetitive patterns in her work, as well as her use of vibrant colors.

Kusama's work often deals with themes of infinity, psychology, and the relationship between the self and the universe. Her work is considered highly influential in the contemporary art world, and she is widely considered to be one of the most important artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Kusama has also been noted for her struggle with mental illness and her use of her art as a form of self-expression and therapy.

Yayoi Kusama (c) Getty Images

Yayoi Kusama became commercially successful through her persistent and diverse artistic output, her use of bold colors and graphic patterns, and her cultivation of a strong personal brand. She began exhibiting her work in the 1950s, and over the years has worked in a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, performance art, and installation art.

She was also known for her self-promotion, which helped to build her reputation and her brand. She would often send out press releases and photographs of her work to various art publications, which helped to gain her exposure. In the 1960s, Kusama moved to New York City, where she became associated with the Pop Art movement and exhibited her work alongside artists like Andy Warhol.

Her international reputation continued to grow in the following decades, and her work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world. Additionally, Kusama's artworks regularly sold at high prices at auctions, making her one of the most expensive living female artist and a commercial success. Kusama's work has been featured in numerous retrospectives, which have helped to solidify her place as one of the most important artists of the 20th century and a commercial success. Although Kusama now appears to be working less herself, her studio is collaborating with luxury brands including Louis Vuitton.

 7 steps Yayoi Kusama took to become a successful artist

1.     Persistent and diverse artistic output: Kusama has consistently produced a large body of work across a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, performance art, and installation art. This helped to establish her as a versatile and productive artist.

2.     Use of bold colors and graphic patterns: Kusama's use of vibrant colors and bold patterns is a distinctive feature of her work, which helped to make it easily recognizable and memorable.

3.     Cultivation of a strong personal brand: Kusama has been known for her self-promotion and has actively worked to build her reputation and brand through press releases and photographs of her work.

4.     Exposure in New York City: Kusama moved to New York City in the 1960s and became associated with the Pop Art movement, which helped to increase her exposure and gain her recognition among artists like Andy Warhol.

5.     Regular exhibition in major museums and galleries: Kusama's work has been exhibited in many major museums and galleries around the world, which helped to solidify her reputation as an important artist.

6.     High-priced sales at auction: Kusama's artworks regularly sold at high prices at auctions, making her one of the most expensive living female artist.

7.     Retrospectives: Kusama's work has been featured in numerous retrospectives, which have helped to solidify her place as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Artists: A question for you

What is one ‘take-away’ from Yayoi Kusama’s career that you could apply to your own art career?