They were born within five years of each other, and each forged a unique path as an artist. Yayoi Kusama (1929–2026), plagued by unwanted visions since childhood and looking for a feeling of security in the oblivion of infinity, made dots and reflected light her best friends forever. Niki de Saint-Phalle (1930–2002), rejecting her bourgeois upbringing, found liberation in her bulbous “Nanas,” matriarchal sculptures painted in bright colors and joyfully taking up major space. And Mary Bauermeister (1934–2023), who didn’t quite fit into any movement, became known for her “lens boxes,” strange scientific stratospheres created out of crystals, mirrors, and pen-and-ink scribbles on white backgrounds. All three women were avant-garde, independent, and creative to the end. With featured works drawn from the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, this exhibition puts these great gals together. —Laura Jacobs