The case
In autumn 2025, the Fondation Beyeler opens its first major retrospective dedicated to Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (*1929, in Matsumoto). Her multidisciplinary practice is well represented: Paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings, collages, performances, fashion, even literature.
Source: Fondation Beyeler – 12 October 2025 to 25 January 2026; the exhibition is organised in close collaboration with Kusama and her studio.
The commentary
The exhibition offers a sweeping view of her artistic career spanning more than 70 years, including early works never before exhibited in Europe, important iconic pieces, recent creations as well as one of her immersive Infinity. Kusama is known for her use of repetitive patterns and structures, especially polka dots and mirrored environments, that invite viewers into infinite, dreamlike worlds.
After Beyeler, the retrospective will be presented at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne (March – August 2026) and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam (September 2026 -January 2027).
Yayoi Kusama’s works consistently sell for significant amounts at auctions, with examples including her painting “Pumpkin” sold for £ 3.1 million at Sotheby’s and another painting “A Flower” for approx. £ 7.5 million at Christie’s in 2023. Her paintings and other works are highly sought after, making her one of the most valuable living artists in the world, a fact supported by auction house sales data from sites like Sotheby’s.
