12 Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Rooms & Where to Find Them

A few years back, I was vacationing in Los Angeles with my family. At the time, my cousins, who were taking me around, insisted that we had to visit The Broad museum. After doing a little research, I got excited to see one particular installation — Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room, titled The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away. Just looking up the location on Instagram, I was bombarded with photo upon photo of dazzling lights that seemed to go on forever.

I’d never heard of the Japanese artist or her work until then. All I knew was that after seeing photos of the installation, I (admittedly not a museum person) was pretty hell-bent on making my way to The Broad and witnessing this mesmerising installation for myself.

Discovering Yayoi Kusama’s world-famous installations

After checking out the museum’s schedule, we made sure to head there as soon as it opened. But just imagine this: We arrived to find a line that extended several blocks away from the museum itself. Who knew everyone would be there that early? Plus, I’d never seen a line for a museum that long before — not even at the Louvre!

But since we were already there, we decided to power through. The sad truth: We had to line up for three whole hours — and when we finally entered, it turned out that you had to reserve a slot to get to see the Infinity Mirror Room. Yes, even if visitors were only given one whole minute inside the room, there were, apparently, no more slots left. Who was this Yayoi Kusama chick anyway? I wondered. I’d never even heard of her before — was her work really that popular?

I did happen to catch a quick glimpse right before someone entered the room, though! Ever since then, every time I would see her name, or the words “Infinity Mirror Room,” they would immediately jump out at me. I soon discovered just how renowned and talented this Japanese artist truly was. 

Who is Yayoi Kusama?

One of the world’s most influential contemporary artists, Yayoi Kusama was born in Matsumoto, Japan in 1929. The 90-year-old artist is particularly known for her sculptures and installations — most notably, her Infinity Mirror Rooms. Take a look at her work, and you’ll notice one recurring element: dots, and lots of them! Some would describe Kusama’s work as “trippy,” and what’s really interesting is that this description isn’t actually far from the truth.

Behind the dots

At the young age of 10, Kusama started experiencing vivid hallucinations. During one particular episode, she was in a field of flowers, which started speaking to her. The flowers, whose heads were like dots, seemed to multiply and go on ceaselessly. Kusama shared that she felt as though she was disappearing, or as she likes to say, ‘self-obliterating’, into this endless field of dots.

Her art was her escape, and at the same time, how she made sense of her hallucinations. Her Infinity Mirror Rooms, in particular, are her way of allowing others to share in this experience of ‘self-obliteration’. In addition to her sculptures and paintings, Kusama been creating these installations since the 1960s — way before the age of Instagram! Today, the artist has an entire five-storey museum dedicated to her work — the Yayoi Kusama Museum first opened its doors in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 2017.

The very first Infinity Mirror Room

Kusama showcased her very first Infinity Room in New York City, where she lived for almost 15 years. An interesting fact about her big move to NYC? She actually sought advice from one of her inspirations — Georgia O’Keeffe, who encouraged her to move to America and put her work out there for as many people to see. How cool is that?

Eventually, Kusama checked herself into a psychiatric hospital, and has been residing there since 1977. Her studio is actually just across the street! Since then, the artist has had numerous exhibits across the globe, and several of her Infinity Mirror Rooms have found permanent homes in various parts of the world. At one particular show in a New York City gallery, visitors actually lined up for six entire hours just to spend 60 seconds inside one of her installations!

Also read: 12 Best Tokyo Museums for Every Kind of Art Fan

Below, I’ve put together a list of places where you can experience Yayoi Kusama’s mesmerising Infinity Mirror Rooms. Hopefully, one day, I’ll have a chance to see at least one of them in real life!

Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms and where to find them

1. Filled with the Brilliance of Life – London, United Kingdom

A beautiful play of colour created with mirrors and LED lights, Filled with the Brilliance of Life has been in Tate Modern Museum in London since May 2021. You can still immerse in one of Kusama’s largest infinity mirror rooms to date until Apr 2024. One look at this installation and you’ll surely be transported to Kusama’s bizarre vision of endless reflections.

Take note that you’ll need to purchase tickets in advance as the booking period will only last until 30 Sept 2023. So make sure to find a specific time and date that works with your schedule!  You may buy tickets online — tickets cost £10 (~S$17.32) for non-members and free of charge for members. If you’re a Tate Collective (16- to 25-year-olds who sign up on their website), the ticket will only cost you £5 (~S$8.66)!

Address: Bankside, London SE1 9TG, United Kingdom

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm

2. Dots Obsession – Aspiring to Heaven’s Love – West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong

If there’s anything, dots and Yayoi Kusama are inseparable. Located in the M+ Museum of Hong Kong, Dots Obsession – Aspiring to Heaven’s Love features large black balloons with white polka dots descending from the ceiling. The reflective mirrors surrounding them create a kaleidoscopic effect of a sea of white dots multiplying endlessly! Visitors will need to line up to experience this illusion, and only three persons are allowed per session. You might want to get your camera ready as soon as you step in as each visitor will be given 30 seconds to view the masterpiece. 

You can visit this Infinity Mirror Room from 25 Aug 2023 onwards (as of writing, it is temporarily closed for maintenance). To witness this monochromatic cosmos up close, do purchase the tickets online in advance. FYI, the general ticket price is HK$90 (~S$15.58). Full-time students, children aged seven to 11, elderly aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients, on the other hand, will enjoy an admission fee of HK$45 (~S$7.79).

Address: Hong Kong, West Kowloon, Museum Dr, 38號 M+ Cultural District

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm (until 10pm on Friday)

Also read: This Hong Kong Local Shares Her Recommended Places & Activities for Tourists

3. Gleaming Lights of the Souls – Humlebæk, Denmark

This dazzling installation at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, titled Gleaming Lights of the Souls, offers visitors an immersive experience. Inside the four-square metre room, the floor is a reflecting pool; in the middle of the water, there is a marked platform placed specifically for the viewer to stand on. The walls and ceilings are covered with mirrors, and around 100 lamps (which closely resemble ping pong balls) are suspended from the ceiling. The lamps change colours continuously, and seem to go on into infinity. How amazing is that?

Fortunately, there’s no need to pre-book slots to witness this installation. In fact, on weekdays, visitors can even walk into this Infinity Mirror Room without having to wait! Admission is free for visitors under 18, while they cost Kr. 125 (~S$24.80) for students and Kr. 145 (~S$28.77) for adults.

Address: Gl Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk, Denmark

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm

4. Fireflies on Water – Bergamo, Italy

Will be taking place at the Palazzo della Ragione from 17 Nov 2023, Fireflies on Water is a dotted-light installation that was carefully put together with lights, mirrors, and water. Similar to Gleaming Lights of the Souls, this one is a small room with mirrors on the walls and ceilings, while there are about two inches of water on the ground. Amazingly, this breathtaking sea of lights is just made up of 150 small beads of light. Inside this Infinity Mirror Room, you’ll feel almost as though you’re floating through a sky filled with stars!

This dazzling illusion will last until 14 Jan 2024. If you’re planning on going, presale tickets are up for grabs from May 2023, where regular admission will cost €10.50 (~S$15.53), while tickets for those under 18 cost €8.00 (~S$11.83). Admission is free for children under three and persons with disabilities.

Address: Piazza Vecchia, 8A, 24129 Bergamo BG, Italy

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 10pm

5. The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away – Los Angeles, California, United States

Meet The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away  — the installation at The Broad that started my obsession with Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. Little did I know back then that this is actually one of Kusama’s most famous works. You might even recognise it from Adele’s When We Were Young music video!

This room is put together just like the works mentioned previously — the walls are mirrored, and the floor is covered in a layer of water. There’s also a marked platform from which visitors can admire the twinkling, multi-coloured strobe lights that hang from the ceiling at different lengths. As the lights are reflected back and forth from mirror to mirror, viewers will witness a vision of seemingly infinite lights! Visitors are given 45 seconds inside this Infinity Mirror Room.

General admission is free, but you need to reserve your slot in advance via online booking to obtain a timed-entry ticket for “Infinity Mirrored Room + General Admission.”  This new reservation procedure will allow you to witness The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away at the start of your museum visit!

Address: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11am to 5pm; Thursday, 11am to 8pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm

6. Longing for Eternity – Los Angeles, California, United States

As The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away was such a hit, The Broad acquired a second Infinity Mirror Room three years later. Longing for Eternity doesn’t offer your typical Infinity Mirror Room experience — it’s actually a small hexagonal chamber with little windows for viewers to peer into.

As you look into the mirror-lined chamber, you’ll find a boundless, kaleidoscope-like landscape filled with colourful lights. An interesting addition to this installation? You’ll also see yourself (and two other viewers, if any) mirrored in the endless reflections!

Admission for Longing for Eternity is free — and thankfully, lines to see this installation are actually quite short! 

Address: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11am to 5pm; Thursday, 11am to 8pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm

7. Infinity Dots Mirrored Room – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The Infinity Dots Mirrored Room at The Mattress Factory is a little something different. This Infinity Mirror Room features a series of narrow mirrors that line its walls and ceiling; the floor, on the other hand, is covered in polka dots of varying colours. With countless reflections, it’s almost dizzying — you’ll hardly be able to tell where everything begins and ends!

Admission to The Mattress Factory costs US$20 (~S$27.12) for adults and US$15 (~S$20.34) for students and senior citizens; entrance is free for children under six years old.

Address: 509 Jacksonia St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, United States

Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm; Wednesday, 11am to 8pm

8. You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies – Phoenix, Arizona, United States

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Yayoi Kusama’s installation is one of the best-loved works at the Phoenix Art Museum. You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is quite a magical sight. Stepping inside this Infinity Mirror Room is like setting foot in a limitless field of fireflies — and interestingly, it’s actually inspired by a Japanese folk tale that involves just that! BTW, for those who are planning on going, this installation will reopen on 9 Sep 2023.

The ticket will cost you US$24.00 (~S$32.54) for adults, US$21.00 (~S$28.47) for senior citizens (aged 65+), US$19.00 (~S$25.76) for students, and US$5.00 (~S$6.78) for youths aged six to seventeen. Admission is free for children below the age of five.

Address: 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States

Opening hours: Wednesday, 10am to 9pm; Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm

9. Love is Calling – Miami, Florida, United States

At the Perez Art Museum in Miami, Love is Calling is the most immersive Infinity Mirror Room that has been on display since Mar 2023. This dark, spacious room is illuminated by glowing inflatable forms that emerge from both the floor and the ceiling; covered in polka dots, these tentacle-like forms gradually change colours. As you walk through the installation, you will also hear a sound recording of Yayoi Kusama herself reciting one of her very own love poems in Japanese!

Timed tickets are required to view Love is Calling, which is open to the public until 11 Feb 2024. General admission to the museum costs US$16 (~S$21.69) for adults and US$12 (~S$16.27) both for senior citizens and students. So, make sure to time your arrival at the Visitor Services desk right as this is one of Kusama’s most kaleidoscopic and psychedelic Infinity Mirror Rooms you can’t stand to miss!

Address: 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, United States

Opening hours: Monday, Friday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm; Thursday, 11am to 6pm

10. My Heart is Dancing into the Universe – Bentonville, Arkansas, United States

At the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, you’ll find this psychedelic Infinity Mirror Room that features dots upon dots (upon dots, and so on). My Heart is Dancing into the Universe features a small room with mirrors on every surface, filled with polka-dotted paper lanterns that change colours. The mirrors create the illusion that the dots are coming closer and closer, and continue to expand as they approach you!

Only one to two people are allowed at this Infinity Mirror Room at one time; visitors have a total of 60 seconds inside. The latest information on their website states that no ticket is required to view this permanent installation!

Address: 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, United States

Opening hours: Saturday to Monday, Wednesday, 10am to 5pm; Thursday to Friday, 10am to 8pm

11. Light of Life – Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Similar to Longing for Eternity at The Broad, Light of Life at the North Carolina Museum of Art is not the kind of Infinity Mirror Room you step into. This mirrored hexagonal box measures seven square feet, and has three portholes located at varying heights. Up to three viewers may look inside this enclosed Infinity Mirror Room at one time. Here, you will witness a kaleidoscopic display of varying lights and colours — along with seemingly endless reflections of yourself and your fellow viewers. Would you believe there are only around 150 lights inside this installation?

Those of you hoping to view this installation will be pleased: Admission is free!

Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, United States

Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm

12. Let’s Survive Forever – New York, United States

From 14 Sep 2023 to 5 May 2024, those in New York State will be able to experience Kusama’s Let’s Survive Forever at the Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester. This 400-square-foot room features a series of mirrored spheres hanging from the ceiling and arranged on the floor. Its walls, on the other hand, are lined with various mirrors, and a mirrored column sits in the centre of the room. Peek inside to see a seemingly endless field of silver orbs!

A maximum of four people can enter this Infinity Mirror Room at one time; visitors may stay inside for one minute. To view this installation, you’ll need to purchase a timed ticket at the MAG guest services counter. We recommend coming by early, as you can only make same-day reservations on a first-come, first-served basis! General admission costs US$20 (~S$27.10) for adults, US$18 (~S$24.39) for senior citizens aged 62 and above, and US$9 (~S$12.20) for college students and children aged six to eight years old. 

Address: 500 University Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, United States

Opening hours: Wednesday, Friday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm; Thursday, 11am to 5pm

BONUS: An entire museum dedicated to Yayoi Kusama in Shinjuku, Tokyo

A small building with a polka-dotted facade, the Yayoi Kusama Museum houses an interesting collection of Kusama’s work — from paintings and sculptures to installations and limited-time exhibitions. And what’s more, it’s even got a library and rooftop garden. Plus, a fun fact: The restroom and elevator are like mini Infinity Mirror Rooms!

Something you might want to know before you go: this museum doesn’t have the type of Infinity Mirror Room that you walk through. Like a few of her installations mentioned above, Pumpkins Screaming About Love Beyond Infinity is a mirrored box is the kind meant for viewers to peer through. Take a look inside, and you’ll see what looks like an endless field of glowing polka-dotted pumpkins! It might not be the grandest Infinity Mirror Room on this list, but it’s definitely still one for the books — especially for big Kusama fans.

Unsurprisingly, the Yayoi Kusama Museum is one of Tokyo’s top attractions, making it quite a challenge to score tickets. Reservations for timed tickets must be made online at least two months in advance; tickets go on sale on the first day of every month, so make sure to mark your calendars! Entry costs ￥1,100 (~S$10.21) for adults and ￥600 (~S$5.57) for children six to 18 years old.

Address: 107 Bentencho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0851, Japan

Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5.30pm

Also read: 10 Must-Visit Museums in Japan for Anime and Manga Fans

There’s something about pretty lights and mesmerising colours, but I love that Yayoi Kusama’s work goes way beyond that. Through her immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms, she somehow reminds me that despite being but a small dot in this vast universe, I am one of the many, significant elements that make it what it is.