"A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe (2022)," by internationall renowned artist Yayoi Kusama, is located in Grand Central Madison, on the Madison Concourse between 46th and 47th streets. Expanding upon Kusama's iconic "My Eternal Soul" series, the new glass mosaic artwork is an exploration of lines and forms, detailed with bold colors. At once abstract and figurative, the artwork highlights a variety of motifs for visitors to discover. They convey the messages of LOVE, UNIVERSE, PEACE, and OWE TO ALL MANKIND, which are central to Kusama's oeuvre. She hopes that the work will bring joy for those who encounter it as they pass through the incredible new space.

Kusama began the "My Eternal Soul" series in 2009. The paintings in the series feature the signature qualities of her "Infinity Net" paintings and echo the obsessive, recurring geometries of her decades-long output. An exploration of form, subject matter, and space, the compositions combine abstract and figurative elements that allude at once to microscopic and macroscopic universes. "A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe" offers viewers a continuous, flowing expanse that renews these familiar motifs and symbols from "My Eternal Soul."

The permanent artwork, fabricated by Miotto Mosaics Art Studios, measures 120' wide x 7' high, with approximately 875 square feet of glass mosaic. "A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe" is a heartfelt gift to New York City by the artist. An accompanying poem written by Kusama speaks directly to all that will experience her artwork from near and far.

This is Yayoi Kusama.
I offer you a message of love, directly from my heart unto the universe.
May you all experience the true beauty of loving humanity.
Human life is beautiful.
My wish is to deliver this vision, with all that is in my life, to the people of New York.

Yayoi Kusama was born in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. From a young age, Kusama experienced visual and auditory hallucinations and began creating net and polka-dot pattern pictures. In 1957, she went to the United States and began making net paintings and soft sculptures, as well as organizing happenings and developing installations that made use of mirrors and lights, establishing herself as an avant-garde artist. Overcoming various obsessions, she discovered an artistic philosophy of self-obliteration via the obsessive repetition and multiplication of single motifs.

Kusama represented Japan at the 45th Venice Biennale in 1993, and lives and works in Tokyo, where the Yayoi Kusama Museum opened in October 2017. Over the past decade there have been museum exhibitions of Kusama’s work touring the world in North and South America, Japan, Korea, Singapore, China, Australia, Russia, Mexico, Spain, England, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, Germany, and Israel.  In 2016, Kusama received the Order of Culture, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Imperial Family. Kusama is the first woman to be honored with the prestigious medal for drawings and sculptures. Continue reading her biography on davidzwirner.com.