Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton
At 96 years old, Yayoi Kusama is one of the most well-known artists in the world.
But her journey wasnât straightforward. Born in 1929 in Japan, she grew up with strict parents who didnât allow her to paint. She still did, but always in secret. Afraid of getting caught, her paintings became fast and chaotic, a style that stayed with her.
At 10 years old, she started experiencing hallucinations, seeing clusters of dots covering everything around her. Instead of ignoring them, she began painting them, turning them into a recurring theme in her work.
In 1958, at age 29, she moved to New York to break into the modern art scene. Inspired by American abstract expressionists, she hoped to find success in the cityâs booming art world. But competition was tough, and she struggled to gain recognition. Eventually, she pivoted to fashion, applying her art to clothing. Thatâs when her career finally took off.
In 2012, she teamed up with Louis Vuitton for the first time, covering classic LV pieces in her âinfinity dots.â and âpsychedelic flowerâ pattern. The hype was there, even though it was limited, since Louis Vuitton didn't even have an instagram account in 2012.
 A decade later, in 2023, the second collaboration droppedâbigger, bolder, and an instant commercial success. It featured brighter infinity dots on loved items like the speedy and several Louis Vuitton trunks. The advertising was insane, as the collection went viral and models like Gisele Bundchen and Bella Hadid modeled for campaigns.
The stores were covered in infinity dots (yes - even on the outside) and Louis Vuitton Paris even had a 15-metre-high inflatable model of Yayoi Kusama placing the dots on the front of the store.
From hidden paintings in Japan to taking over luxury fashion, Kusamaâs journey is pure inspiration. She turned her struggles into style.
