Hand-Painted Dress by Yayoi Kusama, 1968 – Signed, One-of-a-Kind, Lower East Side NYC
This is a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted dress created by world-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama in her Lower East Side storefront studio in New York City in the spring or summer of 1968. The artist constructed the dress directly on the original owner (my mother), using green cotton fabric we brought her. It was made without a pattern and features a sheath-style silhouette with dramatically flared sleeves—entirely Kusama’s design. Kusama hand-painted the dress using bright pink and blue acrylic in her recognizable organic forms. It is signed “KUSAMA” on the fabric. The dress has been worn three times and stored carefully since 1968. It shows some light staining from age but is otherwise in good vintage condition and structurally sound. My mother, who commissioned it, has signed a written provenance statement attesting to its origin and the process of its creation.
standard women’s size, custom fit
Other
Yes
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
In the 1960s in New York, Kusama created avant-garde clothing as part of her “Happenings” and performances. She founded a short-lived fashion company called “Kusama Fashion Company Ltd.” in 1969. The clothing often featured her signature polka dots and provocative styles, including see-through and body-revealing garments—intended to challenge social norms and gender roles.
Given her current celebratory status in the art world, her early fashion pieces are highly collectible. If this were sold through an auction house focused on fashion and couture, I could see this doing very well with an estimate of $15,000-20,000, possibly even exceeding that. If you'd like a few recommendations for auction houses, please let me know.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
A vintage Yayoi Kusama hand-painted cotton tunic
late 1960s
With scoop neckline and flaring sleeves, hand-painted with pink and blue flowers. Signed KUSAMA on lower left hem.
Custom
CONDITION: This dress appears to be in very good condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited from original owner
$ 15,000-20,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
