Aug 27, 2026 - Culture

Remembering Yayoi Kusama in Des Moines

Linh Ta,
Jason Clayworth

Massive bronze sculpture with dotted tentacle-like arms on a circular pedestal in a city park, with green grass, modern buildings, a tall beige skyscraper, and a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. — Pumpkin (L) at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park on Aug. 27. Photo: Courtesy of Eric Burson

"Polka dots can't stay alone. When we obliterate nature and our bodies with polka dots we become part of the unity of our environments."

— Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama

Des Moines has multiple places to honor Yayoi Kusama, who died earlier this month at 97 years old.

Zoom in: The famous Japanese artist is a major part of our public art scene in Des Moines, including "Pumpkin (L)," an 8-foot pumpkin sculpture in the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

The Des Moines Art Center has four other pieces by Kusama, including "Ladder," which is made up of fabric phallic shapes, and part of her "Compulsion Furniture."

The bottom line: Now, she is one of the many dots up in the sky.

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Remembering Yayoi Kusama in Des Moines

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