Introduction
Pumpkin 2000 epitomizes Kusama’s aesthetic practice: the flattened forms rendered in bright, unmixed pigment convey a decorative naivety which harks back to the childhood experiences that she draws on in her creative process. This is combined with the intricacy of the delicately placed dots through which she builds the form of her pumpkins, and the thinly laced webs of infinity net within a black abyss which serve as the background for each work. Upon viewing Kusama’s Infinity Net paintings in 1959, the minimalist artist Donald Judd remarked ‘the effect is both complex and simple’, an equilibrium that the artist has consistently and successfully maintained throughout her oeuvre.
The pumpkin is to Kusama what the soup can is to Warhol: an everyday object elevated to art, that captures their vision and skill. The pumpkin first appeared in Kusama’s work in 1946, when she exhibited Kabocha (Pumpkin) in a travelling exhibition in Nagano and Matsumoto, Japan. She has made tiny pumpkins no bigger than a key ring, and monumental pumpkins that dwarf the viewer with their scale. Kusama’s appreciation for the pumpkin is perhaps most clearly stated through the title of one of her celebrated Infinity Rooms, All the Eternal Love I have for Pumpkins (2016), in which visitors are immersed in her pumpkin-filled visions. The pumpkin has become Kusama’s identifier, the image for which she is most well-known, both as allegory and a form of self-portraiture.
Source: Phillips
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow/Red/Green), 2000
Pumpkin 2000
(Yellow) (Red) (Green)
Medium: Screenprint in colors on 270gsm colorplan paper
[2 screens, 2 colors]
Year: 2000
Image: 30×35 cm (11.8 x 13.8 inches)
Sheet: 48×64 cm (18.9 x25.2 inches)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 20 AP (Yellow); 10 AP (Red); 10 AP (Green)
Printer’s Proofs: 20 PP (Yellow); 10 PP (Red); 10 PP (Green)
Publisher: Serpentine Gallery, London
Printer: K2 Screen
Literature: ABE 298/299/300
Yayoi Kusama Prints 1979-2007, ABE PUBLISHING LTD, Numbers 298/299/300, illustrated page 175
Signed, titled, numbered, and dated in pencil
1. Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow) (ABE 298)
2. Pumpkin 2000 (Red) (ABE 299)
3. Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (ABE 300)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow) (ABE 298)
Seoul Auction: 22 October 2024
Estimated: KRW 40,000,000 – 80,000,000
KRW 40,000,000 (Hammer)
KRW 47,200,000 / USD 34,220
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screenprint
A.P. one of 20 artist’s proofs aside from the edition of 200
Signed, titled, dated, and numbered on the recto
Christie’s online: 1 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 27,720 / USD 37,080
YAYOI KUSAMA (B. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated, and numbered 77/200 in pencil (there were also twenty artist’s proofs)
Mallams UK: 12 June 2024
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 18,000 (Hammer)
GBP 23,832 / USD 30,605
YAYOI KUSAMA (b.1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screenprint
signed, titled, and numbered 151/200 in pencil (in the margin)
Published by Serpentine Gallery, London
Bonhams London: 1 May 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 32,000 / USD 40,640
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 60/200 in pencil (there were also 20 proofs)
Christie’s online: 20 March 2024
Estimated: HKD 200,000 – 400,000
HKD 378,000 / USD 48,338
YAYOI KUSAMA (B. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screenprint
Signed, titled and dated ’19/200 pumpkin 2000 YayoiKusama’ (on the lower edge)
K Auction Seoul: 20 March 2024
Estimated: KRW 82,000,000 – 130,000,000
KRW 94,300,000 / USD 70,819
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screenprint
signed, titled, dated and numbered 198/200 on the front
Bonhams London: 18 October 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 30,720 / USD 38,740
Screenprint in colors
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 49/200 in pencil
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 32,000 / USD 40,710
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow) (Kusama 298), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 167/200 in pencil
Published by Serpentine Gallery, London
Phillips London: 9 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 36,830 / USD 45,848
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow) (K. 298), 2000
Screen-print in colours, on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 59/200 in pencil
Sotheby’s New-York: 19 April 2023
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 53,340
YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, titled and numbered 195/200
Bonhams London: 19 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 31,800 / USD 39,565
YAYOI KUSAMA (Japanese, born 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow) (Kusama 298), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 33/200 in pencil
Bonhams London: 29 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 48,180 / USD 58,520
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 69/200 in pencil
Seoul Auction: 22 March 2022
Estimated: KRW 50,000,000 – 80,000,000
KRW 101,480,000 / USD 83,532
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screen-print in colors
Signed, inscribed ‘pumpkin 2000’ and numbered 65/200 on the recto
Christie’s London: 15 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 47,880 / USD 62,571
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screen-print in colors
Signed, titled and dated in pencil
Numbered 35/200
Bonhams London: 16 December 2021
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 40,250 / USD 53,620
YAYOI KUSAMA (born 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow) (Kusama 298), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 148/200 in pencil
Sotheby’s London: 6 October 2021
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 32,760 / USD 44,500
YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), 2000
Screen-print in black and yellow
Signed in pencil, dated and titled, numbered 198/200
Pumpkin 2000 (Red) (ABE 299)
SBI Art Auction: 25 October 2025
Estimated: JPY 3,500,000 – 6,500,000
JPY 4,830,000 / USD 31,605
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Red) (Kusama 299), 2000
Screenprint
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 100
Published by Serpentine Gallery, London
Sotheby’s London: 25 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 26,400 / USD 35,445
YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, titled and numbered 24/100
Showplace: 5 May 2024
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 27,500 (Hammer)
USD 34,375
YAYOI KUSAMA (Japanese, b. 1929)
“Pumpkin 2000 (Red)”, 2000
Screenprint in Black and Red on Wove Paper
Signed in pencil lower right, titled lower center, and numbered edition “16/100” lower left
Published by Serpentine Gallery, London
Phillips London: 9 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 38,100 / USD 47,430
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Red) (K. 299), 2000
Screen-print in colors on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 51/100 in pencil
Bonhams London: 19 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 35,580 / USD 44,265
YAYOI KUSAMA (Japanese, born 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Red) (Kusama 299), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 32/100 in pencil
Sotheby’s London: 16 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 28,000 – 35,000
GBP 53,340 / USD 64,591
YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screen-print in black and red
Signed in pencil, dated and titled, numbered 35/100
Bonhams London: 29 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 50,700 / USD 61,581
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 63/100 in pencil
Estimated: KRW 80,000,000 – 120,000,000
KRW 80,000,000 (Hammer)
KRW 92,000,000 / USD 71,210
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screenprint
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the recto
Edition: 78/100
Christie’s online: 15 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 53,700
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screen-print in black and red
Signed, dated and titled in pencil, numbered 59/100
Phillips London: 20 January 2022
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 42,840 / USD 58,365
Screenprint in colors, on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 25/100 in pencil
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 44,000 / USD 58,620
Pumpkin 2000 (Red) (Kusama 299), 2000
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 61/100 in pencil
Sotheby’s London: 6 October 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 25,200 / USD 33,940
YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screen-print in black and red
Signed in pencil, dated and titled, numbered 47/100
Phillips London: 15 June 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 27,720 / USD 39,125
Screenprint in colors on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 15/100 in pencil
Christie’s online: 23 September 2020
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 25,000 / USD 32,115
YAYOI KUSAMA (B. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screen-print in black and red on wove pape
Signed, dated and titled in pencil, numbered 14/100
Christie’s London: 17 March 2020
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 32,500 / USD 38,225
YAYOI KUSAMA (B. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Red), 2000
Screen-print in black and red on wove paper
Signed, dated and titled in pencil, numbered 64/100
Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (ABE 300)
Ravenel Taiwan: 3 December 2023
Estimated: TWD 900,000 – 1,400,000
TWD 1,320,000 / USD 41,945
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Green), 2000
Silkscreen
Signed, dated, titled, and numbered 65/100
Phillips London: 9 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 44,450 / USD 55,334
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (K. 300), 2000
Screen-print in colors on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 28/100 in pencil
Bonhams London: 19 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 31,800 / USD 39,565
YAYOI KUSAMA (Japanese, born 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (Kusama 300), 2000
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 5/100 in pencil
Christie’s online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 35,280 / USD 42,851
YAYOI KUSAMA (B. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Green), 2000
Screen-print in colors
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 97/100 in pencil
Phillips London: 15 September 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 44,100 / USD 50,994
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Green), 2000
Screen-print in colors on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 17/100 in pencil (there were also 10 artist’s proofs)
Bonhams London: 29 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 15,000 -20,000
GBP 48,180 / USD 58,520
YAYOI KUSAMA (b 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (Kusama 300), 2000
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 67/100 in pencil
Phillips London: 14 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 47,880 / USD 57,645
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (K. 300), 2000
Screenprint in colors on Colorplan paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 6/100 in pencil
Christie’s Hong-Kong: 21 April 2022
Estimated: HKD 90,000 – 120,000
HKD 529,200 / USD 67,460
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Green), 2000
Screen-print in colors
Signed ‘Yayoi Kusama’ (lower right)
Titled, dated and numbered ‘Pumpkin 2000 97/100’ (lower left)
Bonhams London: 16 December 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 50,250 / USD 66,945
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Green) (Kusama 300), 2000
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Signed, titled, dated and numbered 36/100 in pencil
Sotheby’s London: 6 October 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 21,420 / USD 28,850
YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
Pumpkin 2000 (Green), 2000
Screen-print in black and green
Signed in pencil, dated and titled, numbered 47/100
(total edition includes ten artist’s proofs)
Complete Set
SBI Art Auction: 27 May 2023
Estimated: JPY 12,000,000 – 18,000,000
JPY 14,375,000 / USD 102,230
YAYOI KUSAMA
Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow, Red, Green) (Kusama 298-300), 2000
Screenprint, 3 works
Signed, titled, dated and numbered (each)
[Yellow] From the edition of 200
[Red, Green] From the edition of 100