Yayoi Kusama

I came across the incredible art of Yayoi Kusama a few years ago and I knew that someday I was going to revisit her artwork, with my children. I instantly fell in love with the joyful spirit of Kusama's art and I had a pretty good feeling my girls would love her artwork too. We were incredibly excited to take in the Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, in Toronto. Be sure to check out all of our amazing art projects for kids.

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I suppose what I love most about Kusama's art is how equally simple and complex her pieces are. We started our exploration by watching a brief biography video that we found on London's Tate Modern Museum's website. Kusama exhibited her art at the Tate Modern back in 2012. The video gave us a great overview of Yayoi Kusama's life story, her progression as an artist and how she is living her life now.

I want to lift my heart toward the future.
I have chosen art as the means of accomplishing this.
It is a task that will last a whole lifetime.
- Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama has been called the "Queen of Polka Dots." Her art is absolutely filled with polka dots. In fact, most of the time she is covered in polka dots. Patterns, polka dots, bold colors, and interactive installation pieces - this is the art of Yayoi Kusama. A fabulous artist to explore with kids.

So, after watching the video and after looking at Yayoi Kusama's artwork, my girls and I were pretty sure we knew what we wanted to do. We wanted to make our own Kusama-inspired polka dot art.

Yayoi Kusama Art Project for Kids

artist canvas
pencil
acrylic paint
paintbrushes
permanent makers

First, my daughter and I sketched out our designs on our canvases. I chose a "river" of polka dots, while my daughter drew a graphic flower with a pencil. Then she filled the petals with circles - large and small. I filled my "river" with circles of varying sizes.

close up of series of red polka dots painted on canvas by child inspired by yayoi kusama artwork

Once the drawings were done, it was time to trace the circles with a permanent marker. The reason we traced the circles with a marker was to help make the lines of the circles crisp...it is easier than painting a crisp line...which can be frustrating.

child made polka dot art on canvas inspired by yayoi kusama close up

After the tracing, it was time to paint the circles. My daughter chose orange and I chose red. The paint brought our drawings to life.

child holding a red polka dot flower inspired by yayoi kusama

yayoi kusama red polka dot art on canvas made by kid

My daughter was happy with only painting the polka dots. I decided to add a strip of red to edge my river of circles. I then added a couple of other rivers of circles to my painting.

I think our finished pieces look pretty awesome. It was amazing how easily our designs came together. While painting we felt how addictive painting dots could be. Yayoi Kusama is a remarkable artist who has made an incredible impression on my kids. I think we are going to be creating many polka dot paintings in the future.