Utilizing her art as means for reconciling the obstacles and traumas of her life, each of Yayoi Kusama’s works conveys a deeply personal attachment and connection. Pumpkin is no exception, recalling Kusama’s childhood and combining aesthetic elements from each of Kusama’s signature series. Varying black dots arrange to establish the structural form of the immense, central gourd, marching in hypnotic lines to create the undulating bulbous surface. The negative space left by the dots allows the vibrant, neon yellow to pulsate through, while the deliberate fractal composition of the dots provides depth and dimension. From negative space to layered construction, the luminous yellow becomes the webbed lines of the “infinity nets” which sweep across the background, illuminating and contrasting with the bulbous form of the pumpkin, throwing the spotted vegetable into further distinction. The subject of the pumpkin originates with Kusama’s childhood spent on a wholesale vegetable farm, where pumpkins were a major local crop. It was during this time that the artist first began to experience the visual and aural hallucinations that would plague her throughout her life. “My art originates from hallucinations only I can see,” Kusama explains, “I translate the hallucinations and obsessional images that plague me into sculptures and paintings.” By harnessing and addressing the obstacle of mental illness, Kusama creates absorbing works of stunning depth, captivating viewers with their vibrancy and effervescent spirit. Rare on the market, the current lot is unique as the largest vertical Pumpkin composition ever offered on the market. The unusual scale not only emphasizes the bold, arresting nature of the painting, but makes this lot a highly prized work within Kusama’s oeuvre.