Art & PhotographyNewsYayoi Kusama’s artworks have hit the Vegas StripBut they might not be all about the glitz and glamourShareLink copied ✔️November 18, 2018Art & PhotographyNewsTextThom Waite Las Vegas seems like a weirdly perfect place for one of 89 year old Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s works. Her wildly popular infinity rooms often place the viewer in the center of a seemingly-endless field of golden or jewel-like shimmering lights, which reflect off the mirrored interior like the contents of a treasure chest (or one of Vegas’ ostentatious casinos). But Kusama’s sometimes darker messages behind her work are also appropriate for the so-called city of sin. The exhibition that opened this weekend (November 17) in the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art – which sits among the MGM-owned Bellagio resort and casino on The Strip – will feature two of Kusama’s works. The first, Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity (2009) is one of the aforementioned infinity rooms, comprised of a closed mirrored space with golden lights. Yayoi Kusama, Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity (2009)courtesy of Yayoi Kusama The second work in the exhibition, Narcissus Garden (1966-present), is an arrangement of mirrored globes Kusama debuted without permission at the 1966 Venice Biennale. Originally there were 1500 of these reflective orbs, but in Las Vegas they will be halved to 750 for space reasons. “Over the years we’ve found multiple opportunities to showcase the intricacies of Japanese culture through unique exhibitions to our guests, who visit us from around the world,” said Tarissa Tiberti, executive director of MGM Resorts Art & Culture, in a statement. “This is an incredible moment to highlight two groundbreaking installations by acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama and continue the storytelling nature that art plays in connecting cultures.” Kusama’s Narcissus Garden at the Glass House in Connecticut (2016)via David ZwirnerExpand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREThe Renaissance meets sci-fi in Isaac Julien’s new cinematic installationMagnum and Aperture have just launched a youth-themed print saleArt Basel Paris: 7 emerging artists to have on your radarInside Tyler Mitchell’s new blockbuster exhibition in ParisAn insider’s portrait of life as a young male modelRay Ban MetaIn pictures: Jefferson Hack launches new exhibition with exclusive eventArt to see this week if you’re not going to Frieze 2025Here’s what not to miss at Frieze 2025Portraits of sex workers just before a ‘charged encounter’Captivating photos of queer glamour in 70s New YorkThis erotic photobook archives a decade of queer intimacyGuen Fiore’s tender portraits of girls in the flux of adolescence