Yayoi Kusama Retrospective at Fondation Beyeler: A Comprehensive Celebration of a Contemporary Art Icon (October 12, 2025 – January 25, 2026)
In the autumn of 2025, the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland, will make art history by becoming the first museum in Switzerland to dedicate a full retrospective to the internationally renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (born 1929, Matsumoto). Organized in close collaboration with Kusama and her studio, this landmark exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of her prolific career spanning over seven decades.
What to Expect
The exhibition presents a rich breadth of Kusama’s artistic output, showcasing:
-
Iconic early works never before exhibited in Europe, providing fresh insights into her formative years and evolving aesthetic.
-
Recent productions that demonstrate her ongoing creative vitality well into the 21st century.
-
One of Kusama’s celebrated Infinity Mirror Rooms, immersive installations that use mirrors and lights to create seemingly endless, otherworldly spaces.
Renowned for her exploration of repetitive patterns, obsessive polka dots, and hypnotic motifs, Kusama’s works invite viewers into expansive universes of perception and sensory experience. The exhibition highlights the diversity of media Kusama engages with, including painting, sculpture, installation art, drawing, collage, happenings, live performance, fashion, and literature—emphasizing her status as a multidimensional cultural phenomenon and contemporary art superstar.
Exhibition Collaboration and Tour
The retrospective is jointly organized by Fondation Beyeler, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne (March 14 – August 2, 2026), and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (September 11, 2026 – January 17, 2027), creating a major European tour across three iconic institutions.
Why This Exhibition Matters
Yayoi Kusama is widely celebrated as one of the most influential and enduring figures in contemporary art. Her work reflects profound themes—such as infinity, self-obliteration, and mental health—refracted through distinctive visual languages. Kusama’s pioneering use of repetition and immersive environments has not only shaped the art world but also impacted popular culture globally.
This Swiss retrospective offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with Kusama’s artistic evolution, from early Abstract Expressionist-inspired paintings to the exuberant installations and social performances she is known for today.
Exhibition Details
-
Dates: October 12, 2025 – January 25, 2026
-
Location: Fondation Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland
-
Address: Baselstrasse 101, 4125 Riehen, Basel
-
Hours: Tue, Thu–Sun 10:00–18:00 | Wed 10:00–20:00 | Closed Mondays (except public holidays)
-
Tickets and info: Fondation Beyeler - Yayoi Kusama
Visual and Media Sources
-
Photo and exhibition previews are available on the Fondation Beyeler official website.
-
Exhibition catalog and curated essays produced in collaboration with the artist’s studio.
-
Related media coverage on Artsy and cultural outlets.
Keywords and Anchor Text Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who is Yayoi Kusama?
A: Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist known for her avant-garde work spanning painting, sculpture, installations, performance, and literature. Her signature motifs include polka dots and infinity net patterns, which explore concepts of infinity, self-obliteration, and mental health.
Q: When and where is the Kusama retrospective held in Switzerland?
A: The retrospective will be held at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel from October 12, 2025, to January 25, 2026.
Q: What kinds of works are included in this exhibition?
A: The exhibition includes early works unseen in Europe, iconic paintings, sculptures, new productions, and one of Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms.
Q: Is this exhibition part of a larger tour?
A: Yes, following Basel, the exhibition will move to Museum Ludwig in Cologne and then to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Q: How can I purchase tickets or get more information?
A: Visit the Fondation Beyeler’s official site for ticketing, visitor information, and updates: Fondation Beyeler - Yayoi Kusama.
Q: What makes Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms special?
A: These immersive installations use mirrors and lights to create infinite reflections, offering visitors a unique and disorienting experience of boundlessness and self-immersion.
This retrospective at Fondation Beyeler promises to be a major highlight for contemporary art lovers in 2025, offering a rare and complete view into the visionary practice of one of art’s most influential living legends.