KUSAMA Polka Dot Queen

A vivid portrayal of the life of Yayoi Kusama—Queen of Polka Dots, creator of infinity—from her unusual childhood to international artistic acclaim

From her days in 1960s New York as a proponent of free love and peace to her current position as internationally recognized Queen of Polka Dots and creator of infinity, Yayoi Kusama’s life is an extraordinary story of triumph over adversity through art.

This graphic novel vividly portrays Kusama’s unusual youth and family troubles, her discovery of a new style of painting, her struggles with mental illness, and her rise to international art stardom. For those seeking an introduction to this incredible artist or seeking a fresh take on her story—this is Yayoi Kusama’s life as you’ve never seen it before.

“The only method I have found that relieves my illness is to keep creating art. I followed the thread of art and somehow discovered a path that would allow me to live.”

Simon Elliott is a criminal barrister, art obsessive, and stand-up comedian. Inspired by Hockney’s message in 2021 that “spring cannot be cancelled,” Simon put his lockdown to good use by engrossing himself in all things Hockney, learning how to paint on an iPad, and creating his first graphic novel, Hockney: A Graphic Life (Frances Lincoln, 2023), which was published with Mr. Hockney’s blessing. His other works include Vincent: A Graphic Biography (Frances Lincoln, 2024) and Kusama: Polka Dot Queen (SelfMadeHero, 2025).