In 2017, nearly 160,000 visitors descended upon the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden’s landmark Yayoi Kusama exhibit—waiting in long lines to spend a mere 20 to 30 seconds in each of six different “Infinity Mirror” installations. For weeks, selfies of museum-goers standing amid acrylic pumpkins and twinkling lights blanketed Instagram.
Now comes another chance to appreciate the creations of the still-working, 90-year-old Japanese artist: “One With Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection,” will run from April 4 through September 20. The Hirshhorn recently acquired three of Kusama’s works—including Infinity Mirror Room—Phalli’s Field (Floor Show), which was in the 2017 show, and one of her latest Infinity Mirror Rooms (to be announced later this year). Those two installations, plus Kusama’s sculptures—including Pumpkin and Flowers-Overcoat—and an early painting are included in the small exhibit.
Unlike in 2017, when tickets were released online every Monday at noon (and often gone within a minute), this exhibit will feature free same-day timed passes, handed out at the museum starting at 9 a.m. This new exhibit is also running much longer than the 2017 show, giving you more time to see it. As in 2017, those who spring to become Hirshhorn Insiders (memberships start at $100) will get advance passes to the show and a chance to see it a week early.
Sherri Dalphonse joined Washingtonian in 1986 as an editorial intern, and worked her way to the top of the masthead when she was named editor-in-chief in 2022. She oversees the magazine’s editorial staff, and guides the magazine’s stories and direction. She lives in DC.
