At the beginning of the year, I finally visited the Yayoi Kusama exhibition in Basel! It was an experience I had been looking forward to for a long time.
The special exhibition had already started on 12 October 2025 and I had been wanting to see it for months. Toward the end of the year, though, I almost forgot about it because life got busy. Then a longtime friend of mine (let’s call him T-kun) reminded me about it and asked if we could go together. I was instantly excited.
But when I checked the tickets… they were completely sold out. I honestly thought I had missed my chance. And then – somehow, I still can’t believe it – T-kun managed to get two tickets! You cannot imagine how happy I was! Not just because I could finally see the exhibition, but also because our original plan for the day (going sledging) had been cancelled due to the weather. Everything just fell into place perfectly.
Yayoi Kusuma | Special Exhibition from 12 October 2025 to 25 January 2026
The exhibition was jointly organized by Fondation Beyeler with Museum Ludwig in Cologne (14 March 2026 – 2 August 2026) and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam (11 September 2026 – 17 January 2027).
☆Fondation Beyeler
Baselstrasse 101, 4125 Riehen, Switzerland
fondationbeyeler.ch
Opening Hours
Daily 10:00 – 18:00
until 20:00 on Wednesdays
A Small Trip Before the Exhibition
We planned to visit the exhibition on 10 January 2026, with our slot at 3pm. I went a little early so I could make the most of the day.
I started with a small detour across the border to Germany to send a birthday letter to a German penfriend. It was such a simple thing, but it felt nice to slow down for a moment before the art-filled afternoon ahead. I spent some time shopping at Dreiländergalerie in Weil am Rhein, a mall located right at the meeting point of Switzerland, Germany and France. After browsing a bit, I enjoyed a relaxed lunch at ALEX before heading to Riehen. The direct bus connection made it so easy – no stress, just a smooth ride. I arrived a little early, so I treated myself to a cup of tea at the Beyeler Restaurant.
Yayoi Kusama at Fondation Beyeler
I finally met T‑kun at 3pm and we walked into the Fondation Beyeler together. The moment we stepped inside, I was taken right into Kusama’s world. The exhibition was so much more than I expected: it wasn’t just a collection of artworks, but a vivid journey through her entire creative life. It brought together more than 300 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and immersive environments.
Some rooms felt absolutely endless – mirrors and lights bounced off each other, polka dots stretched across walls and patterns seemed to go on forever. One of the absolute highlights for me was the Infinity Mirrored Room with my favourite pumpkin dot patterns. We had to wait in line for a bit, but honestly, it was so worth it and made a lot of fun! Every corner invited you to pause, take a breath and just feel the space. It reminded me a little of teamLab, where the boundaries between art and experience blur, and where light and reflection become part of the storytelling.
And the pumpkins… I can’t even begin to describe how joyful they made me feel. Kusama’s pumpkins aren’t just sculptures – they are cheerful, playful characters that somehow seem cozy and surreal at the same time. I learned that Kusama’s iconic motifs: polka dots, infinite nets, pumpkins, mirrored rooms – are part of what has made her a global phenomenon.
We also found out there is a Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo, dedicated entirely to her work! Definitely something I will have to plan to visit on my next trip to Japan!
A Day with a Longtime Friend
The exhibition was amazing, but what really made the day special was spending it with T-kun. We had lost touch for a while (COVID, life and time all playing their part) but reconnecting felt so natural, like no time had passed at all. I felt so grateful for our friendship, for being able to share moments like this after so many years. Days like this remind me how rare and precious that kind of connection is. I can’t wait to come back and see you in Basel again soon!
Itsumo arigatou~
Miho's Happy Life 