Yayoi Kusama – The Life Story of a Groundbreaking Artist, Dr. Smadar Sheffi
A lecture on the life and work of Yayoi Kusama, on November 3, 2026, at 20:30, at 5 Yehi’eli Street, Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. With Dr. Smadar Sheffi.
[Details and tickets]
How did a girl who grew up in wartime Japan become one of the world’s most famous artists? What lies behind the dots, pumpkins, and Infinity Rooms that became a global phenomenon? And how did a radical artist who criticized the art market become one of its biggest brands herself?
Long before her dots, pumpkins, and Infinity Rooms became a global phenomenon, Yayoi Kusama was a young and daring artist who came from Japan to the heart of New York’s avant-garde scene in the late 1950s. She pushed boundaries, used the body and sexuality as artistic materials and tools for protest and political and social critique, and developed an unmistakable artistic language.
Together with Dr. Smadar Sheffi, we will embark on a journey through the life and work of one of the most influential and fascinating artists of our time—from the psychological experiences that shaped her world, through her encounters with some of the biggest names in American art, to her transformation into an international icon. We will examine the legacy she left behind.
About
Dr. Smadar Sheffi — curator, art critic, and researcher of contemporary art and culture. She holds a PhD in Art History from the Hebrew University and lectures on Israeli and international art.
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