Yayoi Kusama's Artistic Journey Illustrated in New Graphic Novel
A look into the life of one of the best-known artists of our time.
Although widely-anticipated Yayoi Kusama exhibitions, like the retrospective at Gropius Bau in Berlin and the monumental outdoor exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden, have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are other ways to appreciate the prolific artist’s work. For the first time ever, Italian-Thai cartoonist Elisa Macellari has created a graphic novel of Kusama’s life, titled KUSAMA: A Graphic Biography.
The vivid graphic biography details Kusama’s rise to fame, from her departure from Japan as a young artist, her transition to the buzzing New York art scene in the 1960s and her eventual return home. Spanning 128 pages and featuring 400 illustrations, the book captures some of her most iconic works, including her polka-dotted sewn and stuffed shapes and nature-inspired paintings.
Starting September 15, KUSAMA: A Graphic Biography will be available to purchase on Laurence King’s website for $19.99 USD.
In other news, mixed-media artist and designer Matthew Senna has crafted a new sneaker-inspired sculpture edition.
