17 moments

1. Birth in Matsumoto

   1929-03-22 · Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

   Kusama was born in Matsumoto, Nagano. Her childhood there shaped motifs, including pumpkins and polka dots, that recurred throughout her work.

2. Nihonga study in Kyoto

   1948-01-01 · Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, Kyoto, Japan

   Kusama studied Japanese-style painting at the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts before rejecting its conventional approach and pursuing avant-garde directions. Coordinates represent central Kyoto; the historical school campus is not independently geocoded here.

3. Move to Seattle

   1957-01-01 · Seattle, Washington, United States

   Kusama relocated to Seattle, exhibited paintings at Zoe Dusanne Gallery, and remained there for approximately a year before continuing to New York. Coordinates represent Seattle because the gallery's historical address was not independently geocoded here.

4. Arrival in New York

   1958-06-01 · New York City, New York, United States

   

   Kusama arrived in New York at age twenty-nine, beginning the decade in which she developed many of her best-known paintings, sculptures, installations, and performances. Coordinates represent New York City rather than a documented arrival point.

5. Stephen Radich Gallery solo exhibition

   1961-01-01 · Stephen Radich Gallery, New York City, New York, United States

   At her second New York solo exhibition, Kusama showed monumental monochrome paintings that nearly covered the gallery walls, advancing the Infinity Net idiom. Coordinates represent New York City; the historical gallery address was not independently geocoded here.

6. Street performances in New York

   1965-01-01 · New York City, New York, United States

   Kusama began a turn toward performance with documented events on New York streets in which she herself appeared, a precursor to her later happenings. No specific street or performance date is supplied by the source.

7. Narcissus Garden at Venice Biennale

   1966-01-01 · Italian Pavilion, Giardini della Biennale, Venice, Italy

   

   Kusama staged her unauthorized Narcissus Garden performance outside the Italian Pavilion at the 33rd Venice Biennale, remaining among the mirrored spheres during the opening day.

8. Opening of Peep Show

   1966-01-01 · Castellane Gallery, New York City, New York, United States

   

   Kusama attended the opening of her mirror-lined environmental installation Peep Show at Castellane Gallery and distributed “Love Forever” buttons. Coordinates represent New York City; the historical gallery address was not independently geocoded here.

9. Walking Piece in New York

   1966-01-01 · New York City, New York, United States

   For Walking Piece, Kusama traversed New York streets in a traditional Japanese kimono and floral parasol, using public space to address cultural stereotyping. The source does not identify individual streets.

10. Homosexual Wedding happening

    1968-01-01 · Church of Self-obliteration, 33 Walker Street, New York City, New York, United States

    Kusama presided over Homosexual Wedding at the Church of Self-obliteration, one of the public happenings that made her a conspicuous figure in New York's late-1960s counterculture. Coordinates are for the documented street address.

11. Performance at Fillmore East

    1968-01-01 · Fillmore East, 105 Second Avenue, New York City, New York, United States

    Kusama performed alongside Fleetwood Mac and Country Joe and the Fish at the Fillmore East during her New York happening and performance period. The source supports the year but not a more precise performance date.

12. Grand Orgy to Awaken the Dead

    1969-01-01 · Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, Museum of Modern Art, New York City, New York, United States

    Kusama appeared at MoMA's Sculpture Garden during her unauthorized Grand Orgy to Awaken the Dead, a public happening involving nude performers in the fountain. MoMA identifies the event as occurring in 1969; the source page specifies August 25, 1969.

13. Return to Tokyo

    1973-01-01 · Tokyo, Japan

    

    Ill and short of funds after her New York period, Kusama returned to Tokyo, where she continued producing work and writing fiction and poetry. Coordinates represent central Tokyo.

14. Permanent residence at Seiwa Hospital

    1977-01-01 · Seiwa Hospital, 91 Bentencho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

    

    After seeking psychiatric treatment, Kusama checked herself into Seiwa Hospital in Shinjuku and made it her long-term residence while continuing to work at a nearby studio. Coordinates are approximate for Seiwa Hospital's documented Bentencho address.

15. Japanese Pavilion at Venice Biennale

    1993-01-01 · Japanese Pavilion, Giardini della Biennale, Venice, Italy

    Kusama represented Japan at the Venice Biennale, appearing within a mirrored pumpkin installation in color-coordinated magician's attire. The source supports the year but not a more precise date.

16. Residency at Mattress Factory

    1996-01-01 · Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

    A residency at the Mattress Factory resulted in permanent installations including Infinity Dots Mirrored Room and Repetitive Vision. The source supports the year but not a more precise residency period.

17. Death in Tokyo

    2026-08-14 · Tokyo, Japan

    Kusama died at age ninety-seven in a Tokyo hospital after a lifetime devoted to artistic creation. The announcing studio did not identify the hospital; coordinates represent central Tokyo.