Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Yayoi Kusama, ink, 2000
Untitled, by Yayoi Kusama, ink, 2000

Untitled is an ink print by Yayoi Kusama. It dates from 2000 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2000, this screenprint on mirror is part of a limited edition produced for a magazine publication.

About this work

Overview

Unlike singular paintings, this piece was designed for wider distribution, reflecting her interest in making art accessible beyond the gallery context.

Created in 2000, this screenprint on mirror is part of a limited edition produced for a magazine publication. It belongs to the broader body of work by Yayoi Kusama, who has consistently explored repetition and reflection across media since the 1950s. Unlike singular paintings, this piece was designed for wider distribution, reflecting her interest in making art accessible beyond the gallery context.

Subject & Meaning

The work features a dense field of small, irregular white loops—known as Infinity Nets—that extend to the mirror’s boundary without resolution. These forms originate from hallucinations Kusama experienced in childhood, which she has translated into a visual language of endlessness. The mirror surface intensifies the effect, dissolving the boundary between object and viewer, and evoking themes of self-obliteration and infinite space.

Technique & Style

The image is produced through multiple screenprint layers on a reflective surface, a method that allows for precise, repeated patterns while retaining the hand-painted quality of each loop. The irregular, slightly trembling lines suggest manual application rather than mechanical uniformity. The use of mirror as support transforms the work from a static image into an interactive field that incorporates the viewer’s reflection into the composition.

History & Provenance

This piece was produced as part of a commercial edition for a publication, distinguishing it from Kusama’s earlier, singular Infinity Net paintings. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection as an example of her engagement with printmaking and mass reproduction. Its inclusion reflects the institution’s recognition of her contributions to postwar print culture and conceptual art practices.

Context

Kusama developed the Infinity Net motif in New York during the late 1950s, positioning her work in dialogue with Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism while maintaining deeply personal content. By the 2000s, her use of mirrors and repetition had become central to installations and editions alike. This print situates her psychological concerns within the framework of accessible art objects, bridging private experience and public circulation.

Legacy

The work exemplifies Kusama’s enduring commitment to translating internal psychological states into repetitive visual systems. Its presence in a major museum collection underscores the institutional validation of her print-based practice. The Infinity Net, once a private vision, now functions as a widely recognized symbol of her artistic identity, influencing generations of artists working with pattern, perception, and self-representation.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Yayoi Kusama

Artist

Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama (草間 彌生, Kusama Yayoi; born 22 March 1929) is a Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museum of Modern Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.