Q&A: Yayoi Kusama, Pop Artist

Eyeing one of the galleries stacked with her psychedelic paintings at Manhattan’s Whitney Museum of Art Monday afternoon, Yayoi Kusama said, “I’m genius.”

At 83, the beyond-prolific artist wasn’t overstating her career.

WWD: It has been many years since you were in New York. What strikes you about how the city has changed?
Yayoi Kusama: When I was living here in the Sixties, it was like the city was at the utmost point of the world. There was more energy. Today it lacks energy.

WWD: You once said that had it not been for art you would have killed yourself. Do you still feel that way?
Y.K.: I feel that way exactly. There’s not one day that I don’t think about death. The fact that I paint helps me to keep these ideas away and continue.

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[Top: Yayoi Kusama]

[Bottom: Pieces from the exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art.]