Yayoi Kusama
Awards & Honours
6
Awards Won
7
Honours
3
Rankings
4
Covers
2
Records
Yayoi Kusama's list of honors reflects her towering influence in contemporary art. In 2006, she received the Praemium Imperiale, often considered the Nobel Prize of the arts. In 2016, she was awarded Japan's Order of Culture, one of the nation's highest civilian honors. Her 2014 auction record for a female artist, with a pumpkin selling for $7.9 million, was a historic milestone. In 2017, the opening of the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo dedicated an entire institution to her work. These achievements, along with her Guinness World Record recognition, underscore her unique position as a living legend who continues to shape the art world.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Order of Culture
One of Japan's highest national honors, awarded for lifetime cultural achievement.
Praemium Imperiale
International arts prize for painting, often called the Nobel Prize of the arts.
Medal with Purple Ribbon
Awarded for contributions to arts and academia.
Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree in recognition of her artistic achievements.
Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree for her contributions to contemporary art.
Honorary Member
Elected as an honorary member of the Royal Academy.
Guinness World Record
Most expensive artwork by a living female artist at auction ($7.9 million).
Rankings & Lists
World's Top-Selling Female Artist
Top 200 Collectors and Artists
Top-Selling Living Artists
Magazine Covers
Artforum
1960s
Cover feature during her New York years
ARTnews
Multiple years
Multiple cover features
Vogue Japan
2012
Louis Vuitton collaboration feature
The New York Times Magazine
2017
Profile on her life and career
Records & Feats
Most expensive artwork by a living female artist at auction
Her 2014 pumpkin sculpture sold for $7.9 million, setting a record at the time.
World's top-selling female artist
Recognized by Artnet and Artprice as the highest-grossing female artist at auction.