The Art of Polka Dots

Yayoi Kusama—with her dotted infinity rooms and spotted pumpkins—may be the artist most celebrated for her use of polka dots. However, she is far from alone in her passion for circular patterns. From Judy Chicago to Damien Hirst, many of today’s top artists have been drawn to these playful shapes. In the 1960s, Roy Lichtenstein became known for his exaggerated use of Ben-Day dots, painting hundreds of perfectly round shapes to portray scenes from comic books on a large scale. More recently, Barbara Takenaga turned to dots for her meditative, mandala-like abstractions that appear to fade into infinite space. Below, discover a curated selection of polka-dotted classics from these artists and more, perfect for that empty spot in your home.