b. 1929, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

Kusama's artistic career began in Japan, but her years in New York in the 1960s played a decisive role in shaping her style. In the atmosphere of hippie culture and anti-war protests, she experimented with forms and materials. This free-spirited environment inspired her, but breaking into the New York art scene was not easy. As a woman and a Japanese immigrant, she faced prejudice.