From Chicago Sun-Times · · 3m
Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms Return to Chicago
Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms return to Chicago this fall at Wrightwood 659.
In brief
Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms return to Chicago this fall at Wrightwood 659. Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms return to Chicago this fall at Wrightwood 659, featuring two mirrored rooms and a pumpkin sculpture alongside artists Mary Bauermeister and Niki de Saint Phalle. Originally reported by Chicago…
Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms Return
Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms return to Chicago this fall at Wrightwood 659, the boutique art museum in Lincoln Park.
Kusama’s Artwork on Display
The show features two Infinity Mirror Rooms, colorful reflective artworks from the Japanese artist who died in August at age 97.
Exhibition Details
The exhibition, 'Inner Worlds: Visions from the Hirshhorn Collection,' opens Friday and runs through December 19, the only Chicago location for Kusama’s mirrored rooms.
Kusama’s Previous Display
Chicago audiences previously saw Kusama’s 'LOVE IS CALLING' room at WNDR Museum, which closed this month.
Kusama’s Artistic Resurgence
Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms gained widespread popularity after a 2017 tour that drew record attendance and generated significant internet buzz.
Kusama’s Personal Struggles
Kusama experienced hallucinations since childhood and lived voluntarily at a psychiatric facility in Tokyo from the 1970s until her death.
Exhibition Context
The show pairs Kusama’s work with two trailblazing female artists, Mary Bauermeister and Niki de Saint Phalle, who also explored immersive art during the 1950s and 1960s.
Curator’s Perspective
Curator Betsy Johnson noted the exhibition highlights Kusama’s work alongside underrepresented female artists in a male-dominated art world.
Kusama’s Controversy
After Kusama’s death, racist anti-Black comments she wrote in her autobiography resurfaced, prompting an apology in 2023 to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Exhibition Impact
Wrightwood 659 reports the highest registration numbers for any exhibition, reflecting strong public interest in Kusama’s work.
Wrightwood 659 Background
Wrightwood 659 is privately owned by philanthropist Fred Eychaner and designed by architect Tadao Ando, with plans to expand facing a court challenge.
Other Exhibitions
Taiwanese artist Yuan Goang-Ming’s immersive video installation 'Everyday War' is also on view at Wrightwood this fall.
Curator’s Insight
Curator Betsy Johnson describes entering Kusama’s mirrored rooms as a threshold into a world that sparks curiosity and self-reflection.
Kusama’s Apology
Kusama apologized in 2023 for racist comments in her autobiography, stating her lifelong intention was to lift up humanity through art.
Exhibition History
Wrightwood 659 has collaborated with the Hirshhorn Museum on three previous exhibitions, including Ai Weiwei’s 'TRACE' in 2018 and Rirkrit Tiravanija’s work in 2022.
What Happens Next
The exhibition runs through December 19, offering Chicago audiences a unique chance to experience Kusama’s immersive art alongside pioneering female artists.
The short version
Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms return to Chicago this fall at Wrightwood 659, featuring two mirrored rooms and a pumpkin sculpture alongside artists Mary Bauermeister and Niki de Saint Phalle.
