Yayoi Kusama

Born in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama has spent much of her life creating art that defies easy categorization. From her early works in painting and sculpture to her more recent large-scale installations, she has consistently pushed boundaries, earning her a place among the most influential contemporary artists worldwide. Her art often explores themes of infinity, obsession, and self-obliteration, which, coincidentally, also describe how one feels after standing in line for three hours to see one of her exhibitions.

While her family ran a plant nursery, providing ample opportunities for childhood hallucinations involving talking flowers and patterns, Kusama herself has no discernible Jewish identity or origin. Her prolific output and global recognition have certainly brought a certain kind of "kvell-worthiness" to the art world, though perhaps not in the traditional sense we usually measure it.

Living voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital since 1977, Kusama commutes daily to her nearby studio. This unique lifestyle, coupled with her iconic status and instantly recognizable aesthetic, makes her a fascinating figure. She's certainly brought a lot of joy (and Instagram content) to millions, proving that sometimes, all you need are a few thousand dots to make a big impression.