[Exhibition Info] Announcement of the Yayoi Kusama Museum's 16th Exhibition 'Fighting Woman / Painting Girl'

14th Street Happening (detail) 1966 © YAYOI KUSAMA Photo: Eikoh Hosoe

We are pleased to announce that the Yayoi Kusama Museum will hold its 16th exhibition, “Yayoi Kusama: Fighting Woman / Painting Girl.”

Having loved painting since childhood, Yayoi Kusama's artistic journey has undergone various transformations over her long career. This exhibition explores her identity as expressed in her works, focusing on two faces: the “fighting woman” and the “innocent girl.”

The exhibition looks at Kusama as a “fighting woman” who daringly pursued her art as a minority Asian woman in the male-dominated art world of 1957 New York. At the same time, it highlights the innocent expressions of a girl, seen in her recent paintings with their vibrant colors and humorous depictions of people.

On display are challenging works from her time in the U.S., including early drawings, sculptures tackling trauma, and documentary records of nude performances. Also featured are her recent, energetically created painting series, three-dimensional works of girls and flowers that embody her fantasy world, and a brand-new, world-premiere miniature mirror room.

We invite you to experience the multifaceted creative world of Kusama, where the fighting spirit to challenge the times and the innocence of a girl coexist.

[Exhibition Information]

• Exhibition Title: 16th Exhibition, “Yayoi Kusama: Fighting Woman / Painting Girl”

• Venue: Yayoi Kusama Museum

• Dates: Thursday, October 16, 2025 – Sunday, March 8, 2026

• Details: Yayoi Kusama Museum Official Website