High Heels are a recurring motif in Yayoi Kusama’s artistic output, including in prints, paintings, and sculptures. Those instantly recognized heels are the testimony of the artist’s involvement in the fashion world, she has been collaborating with Louis Vuitton for many years for example, but they also celebrate the joy of self-expression and liberty. Indeed, Yayoi Kusama unique fashion statement, as she has been wearing clothing featuring her own patters relentlessly together with impeccable red hair, testifies that she is indeed an extension to her own art.

In High Heels, Kusama places a pair of yellow high heels at the center of each print. Those prints are quintessential Yayoi Kusama, as the shoes are filled with her signature Polka Dot pattern, and they are placed within an Infinity Nets background, all with bright, joyful colors. Even though each print, with bold colors, are clearly a celebration of the feminine attribute, the viewer is left with empty shoes, awaiting for their unknown future wearer…

High Heels (1)-(4)

Medium: Screen-print in colors on Kakita-shi paper with Lame
[4 screens, 4 colors, 5 runs]
Year: 1999
Image: 45×54 cm (17.7 x 21.3 inches)
Sheet: 60×68 cm (23.6 x 26.8 inches)
Edition: 60
Artist’s Proofs: 6 AP (11 AP for High Heels (1))
Printer’s Proofs: 5 PP
Printer: Okabe Tokuzo, Tokyo
Literature: ABE 259-262
Yayoi Kusama Prints 1979-2017, ABE PUBLISHING LTD, Numbers 259-262, Illustrated pages 154-155

Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil on lower edge

High Heels (1) (ABE 259)

High Heels (2) (ABE 260)

High Heels (3) (ABE 261)

High Heels (4) (ABE 262)

Auction Results

1. High Heels (1) (ABE 259)

SBI Art Auction: 14 July 2023
Estimated: JPY 3,500,000 – 5,500,000
JPY 8,855,000 / USD 64,145

YAYOI KUSAMA
High Heels (1) (Kusama 259), 1999
Screenprint, lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered
From the edition of 60

K Auction Seoul: 23 June 2021
Estimated: KRW 28,000,000 – 70,000,000
KRW 75,900,000 / USD 66,800

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
High Heels (1), 1999
Screenprint with lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the front

2. High Heels (2) (ABE 260)

Est-Ouest Auctions Tokyo: 30 September 2023
Estimated: JPY 4,000,000 – 6,000,000
JPY 11,500,000 / USD 77,980

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
HIGH HEELS (2), 1999
Screenprint with lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the margin

Est-Ouest Auctions Hong-Kong: 28 May 2023
Estimated: USD 65,000 – 75,000
USD 69,300

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
HIGH HEELS (2), 1999
Screenprint with lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the margin

K Auction Seoul: 24 November 2021
Estimated: KRW 35,000,000 – 70,000,000
KRW 40,250,000 / USD 33,875

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
High Heels (2), 1999
Screenprint with lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the front

Sotheby’s London: 13 October 2020
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 25,200

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
HIGH HEELS (2), 1999
Screen-print in colors with lamé on Kakita-shi paper
Signed in pencil, dated, titled, numbered 55/60

4. High Heels (4) (ABE 262)

Est-Ouest Auctions Hong-Kong: 28 May 2023
Estimated: USD 45,000 – 55,000
USD 50,400

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
HIGH HEELS (4), 1999
Screenprint with lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the margin

K Auction Seoul: 27 January 2022
Estimated: KRW 35,000,000 – 70,000,000
KRW 43,700,000 / USD 36,275

YAYOI KUSAMA (b. 1929)
High Heels (4), 1999
Screenprint with lamé
Signed, titled, dated and numbered on the front

K Auction Seoul: 29 April 2021
Estimated: KRW 30,000,000 – 70,000,000
KRW 62,100,000 / USD 55,730