Yayoi Kusama saw dots everywhere: Japanese artist returned from US in 1973, lived voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital from 1977 until her death

Yayoi Kusama life story: Yayoi Kusama, the acclaimed Japanese artist known for her iconic polka dots, pumpkins and Infinity Mirror Rooms, has died at 97. Kusama began experiencing vivid hallucinations as a child, including seeing dots and patterns across her surroundings, experiences that later became a defining influence on her art. Kusama voluntarily lived in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo from 1977 while continuing to create art from a nearby studio.