Untitled
1958
gouache
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1958
gouache
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
You see a small sheet of paper covered in tiny, wobbly loops—black ink scribbles that look like nervous handwriting or tangled roots. Kusama made this when she was still in Japan, before she moved to New York and became known for her polka dots and infinity rooms. The loops feel like a secret language, something she kept drawing even when no one was watching. If you like the way the lines pulse, look up pastel next.