From wedding ceremonies to sunsets with pumpkins, even in urinals, Kusama’s work brought joy, mischief and inspiration to so many

I have always loved Yayoi Kusama’s work, and when I visited an exhibition of hers on a gap year in Sydney I was spellbound by her infinity mirror rooms. I immediately thought, despite being single at the time, this is a fantastic space to propose in. Fast forward around eight years and I am on one knee holding a ring out to my partner inside an infinity mirror room in Helsinki, with excited and expectant Finns looking on. He said yes. At the wedding, the breakfast was held under polka dotted pink lanterns. Kusama was a fantastic artist, who also protested for my ability to marry – performing her own gay wedding ceremonies before it was legally recognised – and inspired key aspects of my wedding. Liam, 40, Surrey

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© Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

© Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

© Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Artists, scholars and fans celebrated Ms. Kusama as a cultural giant who helped bring Japanese art to the masses.

© Noriko Hayashi for The New York Times

In her mass-produced ubiquity, Kusama became one of her own dots, spreading her image into every corner of our culture.

© Philip Fong/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The Japanese artist’s polka-dot-covered paintings, phallic sculptures and public performances caused a stir in New York City and Europe in the 1960s.