Category: KUSAMA, YAYOI

YAYOI KUSAMA, Pumpkin, 2019
61 x 43 cm
print on bath mat (small)
polyester fabric
published by Redbubble, Docklands, Victoria, Australia
Collection K. van Gelder, Amsterdam

In 2019 for a very short period a bath mat (both small and large) with printed pumpkin was offered for sale. The design was more than remarkable since only circa 5% of the surface was used for the image of a pumpkin; not really a commercial product, one would say. In less than two months it was taken from the website of Redbubble.

Redbubble is a global online marketplace for print-on-demand products based on user-submitted artwork. The company was founded in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, and also maintains offices in San Francisco and Berlin in 2017.

YAYOI KUSAMA, I Love Lots of Dots, 2019
ca 70 x 37 cm
tote bag, screen print
published by Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar, Netherlands
inv.Tassen 619

Descriptions of the term tote or tate for bags, meaning bags “to carry”, can be traced back to 1900. During the 1950s, tote bags began to enter into the main culture. Women primarily utilized them as practical handheld bags because they didn’t require much care.

YAYOI KUSAMA, Pumpkin stickers Yellow/Black, glossy, 2019
each 8,3 x 20,4 cm
3 sticker sheets
edition print-on-demand
published by Redbubble, Melbourne, Australia
inv.YKus 775

Redbubble is a global online marketplace for print-on-demand products based on user-submitted artwork. The company was founded in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, and also maintains offices in San Francisco and Berlin.

YAYOI KUSAMA, Pumpkin stickers Yellow/Black, glossy, 2019
8.3 x 20.4 cm
sheet with 2 stickers
edition print-on-demand
published by Redbubble, Melbourne, Australia
inv.YKus 775

Redbubble is a global online marketplace for print-on-demand products based on user-submitted artwork. The company was founded in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, and also maintains offices in San Francisco and Berlin.

YAYOI KUSAMA, Purse – black dots on yellow, 2019
11 x 14 x 4,5 cm
embroidered signature on inside label, leather purse, colophon on card in Japanese, protection bag
published by Lammfromm / Workaholics Inc., Tokyo, Japan
pristine

History of prices:
MoMA, New York, USA February 2022 US$ 150.-
Tate Modern, London, UK February 2022 GBP 170.-
Lammfromm, Tokyo, Japan, February 2022 JP¥ 9,800 / € 75,-

YAYOI KUSAMA, Love Forever, ca 2018
diameter 5,5 cm
compact pocket mirror, plastic sleeve
inv.YKusa 772

YAYOI KUSAMA, Pumpkins, 2002
15 parts
5 pieces of 10,5 x 9 x 8 cm / 4 1/8 x 3 1/2 x 3 1/8 inches, five pieces of 7 x 7 x 9 cm / 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches, 5 pieces of 9.5 x 9.5 x 7.5 cm / 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 3 inches, case: 15 x 58,6 x 36,4 cm / 5 7/8 x 23 1/8 x 14 3/8 inches
paint on ceramic, original mixed media jewel box
each signed, dated, numbered (verso)
edition 130
not available anymore

History of prices:
Sotheby’s, Hong Kong (lot 1473)   US$ 42.000,-    29 May, 2011

YAYOI KUSAMA, Narcissus Garden, 1966 – 1999 [sic]
ca 28 x 18 x 20 cm
plastic mirror ball, transparent plastic mini bag, ribbon, printed tag
edition 1500 (as stated on tag)
mint condition; pristine ball in clear transparent plastic bag
very rare in this condition
published by Les Abattoirs, Lyon, France
Collection K. van Gelder, Amsterdam

This mirror ball in transparant plastic bag was shown in “Een goed in de weg staande tafel” curated by Jack Jaeger in Galerie van Gelder in 2001. A catalogue was issued.
In spite of its description being an edition of 1500 this multiple as shown above is difficult to find. It is known that the original version of plastic balls shown in the Venice Biennale in 1966 was produced in an edition of 1500, but one may wonder what has happened with the other 1499 copies of this apparently smaller plastic version put in plastic mini bag and tag saying: YAYOI KUSAMA One of the 1500 mirror balls of Narcissus Garden 1966-1999. At least two labels with different years and ways of fastening are circulating. The tag of the above ball was produced in 1999, the one pictured below in 2001. KvG

Example of a tag with chain instead of ribbon, with slightly aged plastic bag. This tag is of a later date, namely 1966-2001.