Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who has died at the age of 97, became one of the world’s most recognisable contemporary artists through her extraordinary use of polka dots, bold colours, mirrors and immersive installations.

Kusama emerged as part of the pop art movement and became one of a relatively small number of contemporary artists whose work achieved widespread popularity beyond the traditional art world.

Her exhibitions attracted millions of visitors in major cities including Tokyo, New York and London, with audiences drawn to the distinctive visual environments she created.

Polka dots became Kusama’s signature artistic element, appearing across entire gallery spaces, paintings and enormous sculptures. Her work frequently transformed ordinary spaces into colourful and surreal environments.

Kusama was also celebrated for her use of mirrors and lights. Her famous immersive installations created the illusion that lights, shapes and patterns continued endlessly into the distance, giving visitors the sensation of entering an infinite world.

Her work remained a major cultural attraction late into her career. Actress Julia Fox was among the guests attending the opening of a Kusama exhibition in Melbourne, Australia, in 2024.

Kusama’s distinctive visual language and immersive approach helped make her one of Japan’s most internationally recognised artists, leaving a significant influence on contemporary art and popular culture.