A Look at Yoko Ono's Life in Photos as the Artist and Activist Turns 92 Today

Mar. 15, 2025

Yoko Ono.Photo: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Yoko Onohas lived quite a full life.Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ono came to the United States when she was 19 years old, after her father, who was a banker, was transferred to New York City.She rose to prominence in the arts scene in New York in the ’60s before she met Beatles legendJohn Lennon. The two were married in 1969, and together, they formed the Plastic Ono Band — a collaborative artist collective that meshed their interests in rock music, films and conceptual arts projects. Though the pair hadchildrenfromprevious relationships, they welcomed their only child together,son Sean, in 1975.As Yoko Ono turns 92 on Feb. 18, 2025, look back at her incredible life in photos below.

Yoko Onohas lived quite a full life.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ono came to the United States when she was 19 years old, after her father, who was a banker, was transferred to New York City.

She rose to prominence in the arts scene in New York in the ’60s before she met Beatles legendJohn Lennon. The two were married in 1969, and together, they formed the Plastic Ono Band — a collaborative artist collective that meshed their interests in rock music, films and conceptual arts projects. Though the pair hadchildrenfromprevious relationships, they welcomed their only child together,son Sean, in 1975.

As Yoko Ono turns 92 on Feb. 18, 2025, look back at her incredible life in photos below.

01of 15Yoko Ono’s Early YearsFortune/Daily Mail/ShutterstockYoko Onowas born on Feb. 18, 1933, in Tokyo, to artist parents. During World War II, she and her siblings relocated to the countryside, and she eventually found her way to New York City in the 1950s.

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Yoko Ono’s Early Years

Fortune/Daily Mail/Shutterstock

Yoko Onowas born on Feb. 18, 1933, in Tokyo, to artist parents. During World War II, she and her siblings relocated to the countryside, and she eventually found her way to New York City in the 1950s.

02of 15Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1969AP PhotoOno’s own budding art career took her around the globe, including to London, where she met Beatles musicianJohn Lennonin 1966. The two had an instant connection, leading in part to Lennon’s divorce from wife Cynthia in 1968.Ono eventually drew ire from many fans of The Beatles, who believed her constant presence affected the band’s music and eventual breakup. Overtime, public perception of Ono has changed, and Lennon’s bandmates have spoken fondly of her.

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Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1969

AP Photo

Ono’s own budding art career took her around the globe, including to London, where she met Beatles musicianJohn Lennonin 1966. The two had an instant connection, leading in part to Lennon’s divorce from wife Cynthia in 1968.

Ono eventually drew ire from many fans of The Beatles, who believed her constant presence affected the band’s music and eventual breakup. Overtime, public perception of Ono has changed, and Lennon’s bandmates have spoken fondly of her.

03of 15Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1969Frank Barrett/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe pair were activists as much as artists, posing on the steps of the Apple building in London in 1969 with a sign reading, “War is over! If you want it. Happy Christmas from John and Yoko.”

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Frank Barrett/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The pair were activists as much as artists, posing on the steps of the Apple building in London in 1969 with a sign reading, “War is over! If you want it. Happy Christmas from John and Yoko.”

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Yoko Ono with John Lennon and His Son, Julian

Bettmann Archive

Lennon had one son, Julian, with ex Cynthia. He was a teenager when his father died.

Speaking to PEOPLE after his dad’s death, Julian said, “I learned quite a bit from observing what he went through, the good bits and the mistakes. I’d rather not think about the times when I didn’t see him, and I hope I’ll meet him up there for a drink or whatever when I disappear.”

His happier memories were “just being with him and having fun … wrestling on the floor—we were silly, over the top, mad in our different ways.”

05of 15Yoko Ono and Her Daughter, Kyoko Chan CoxMediapunch/ShutterstockOno also had a child from a previous relationship, daughter Kyoko, who spent much of her early life with her father, Ono’s first husband, Anthony Cox.Though Kyoko told PEOPLE in 2003 that Lennon was always “nice to me,” she described him as “this consuming force. He wanted all of my mom, and there wasn’t a lot of her left for me.“After ultimately disappearing with her dad, Kyoko contacted her mother in 1994, after deciding to have children of her own. “When Kyoko appeared finally, I was totally in shock,” Ono later told PEOPLE. “It felt like the part of me that was missing came back.““Losing my daughter was a very serious pain,” she added. “There was always some empty space in my heart.”

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Yoko Ono and Her Daughter, Kyoko Chan Cox

Mediapunch/Shutterstock

Ono also had a child from a previous relationship, daughter Kyoko, who spent much of her early life with her father, Ono’s first husband, Anthony Cox.

Though Kyoko told PEOPLE in 2003 that Lennon was always “nice to me,” she described him as “this consuming force. He wanted all of my mom, and there wasn’t a lot of her left for me.”

After ultimately disappearing with her dad, Kyoko contacted her mother in 1994, after deciding to have children of her own. “When Kyoko appeared finally, I was totally in shock,” Ono later told PEOPLE. “It felt like the part of me that was missing came back.”

“Losing my daughter was a very serious pain,” she added. “There was always some empty space in my heart.”

06of 15Yoko Ono and John Lennon Marry, 1969Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1969.Daily Herald/Daily Herald/Mirrorpix via Getty ImagesOno and Lennon married on March 20, 1969, in Gibraltar.“When I fell in love with Yoko,” Lennon once said, per a 1966Playboystory, “I knew, my God, this is different from anything I’ve ever known … This is more than a hit record, more than gold, more than everything.”

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Yoko Ono and John Lennon Marry, 1969

Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1969.Daily Herald/Daily Herald/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Ono and Lennon married on March 20, 1969, in Gibraltar.

“When I fell in love with Yoko,” Lennon once said, per a 1966Playboystory, “I knew, my God, this is different from anything I’ve ever known … This is more than a hit record, more than gold, more than everything.”

07of 15Yoko Ono and Her Son, Sean LennonRose Hartman/Archive Photos/Getty ImagesSean Lennon, the only child of Ono and Lennon, was born on Oct. 9, 1975.“I see a lot of John in Sean,” Ono told PEOPLE in 1982. “He’s quick and snappy.“Speaking to PEOPLE in 1994, she added that one of her greatest accomplishments in life was that “Sean has grown up the way he has. There’s satisfaction in thinking your judgement was right.”

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Yoko Ono and Her Son, Sean Lennon

Rose Hartman/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Sean Lennon, the only child of Ono and Lennon, was born on Oct. 9, 1975.

“I see a lot of John in Sean,” Ono told PEOPLE in 1982. “He’s quick and snappy.”

Speaking to PEOPLE in 1994, she added that one of her greatest accomplishments in life was that “Sean has grown up the way he has. There’s satisfaction in thinking your judgement was right.”

08of 15Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1980AP Photo/Steve Sands, FileOn Dec. 8, 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment building. He was 40 years old.“The doctor came and handed me things. I still didn’t believe it. Then the doctor handed me John’s wedding ring, and I knew,” Ono told PEOPLE in 1990. “It was important that I give my permission to the hospital to announce John’s death. But I couldn’t bring myself to say yes right away. For that split second, I felt as though John would still be alive if his death was not announced.““I still have dreams of John,” she added. “His spirit is always with me.”

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Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1980

AP Photo/Steve Sands, File

On Dec. 8, 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment building. He was 40 years old.

“The doctor came and handed me things. I still didn’t believe it. Then the doctor handed me John’s wedding ring, and I knew,” Ono told PEOPLE in 1990. “It was important that I give my permission to the hospital to announce John’s death. But I couldn’t bring myself to say yes right away. For that split second, I felt as though John would still be alive if his death was not announced.”

“I still have dreams of John,” she added. “His spirit is always with me.”

09of 15George Harrison, Yoko Ono and Ringo Starr in 1988Michael E. Ach/Newsday RM via Getty ImagesOno helped represent The Beatles when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Jan. 20, 1988, in New York City. McCartney missed the induction due to “business differences” with his former bandmates.

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George Harrison, Yoko Ono and Ringo Starr in 1988

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Ono helped represent The Beatles when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Jan. 20, 1988, in New York City. McCartney missed the induction due to “business differences” with his former bandmates.

10of 15Yoko Ono and Paul McCartneyDMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/ShutterstockMcCartney with Sean Lennon and Ono after John Lennon’s solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.“There are many things Paul and I go through behind the scenes,” Ono told PEOPLE in 2003 of the pair’s storied relationship. “Sometimes we agree and sometimes we don’t.”

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Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney

DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

McCartney with Sean Lennon and Ono after John Lennon’s solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

“There are many things Paul and I go through behind the scenes,” Ono told PEOPLE in 2003 of the pair’s storied relationship. “Sometimes we agree and sometimes we don’t.”

11of 15Yoko Ono and Ringo StarrTodd Williamson/Invision/APOno has also frequently reunited with Starr, like here at the 56thGrammy Awardsspecial merit awards ceremony in 2014.

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Yoko Ono and Ringo Starr

Todd Williamson/Invision/AP

Ono has also frequently reunited with Starr, like here at the 56thGrammy Awardsspecial merit awards ceremony in 2014.

12of 15Yoko Ono’s 2005 RetrospectiveWolfgang Kuhn/United Archives via Getty ImagesIn 2005, Ono was celerated in a retrospective exhibition in Passau, Germany, one of countless shows she’s been involved with through the years.

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Yoko Ono’s 2005 Retrospective

Wolfgang Kuhn/United Archives via Getty Images

In 2005, Ono was celerated in a retrospective exhibition in Passau, Germany, one of countless shows she’s been involved with through the years.

13of 15Yoko Ono Performing in 2011Kevin Mazur/WireImageAlso a musician, Ono performed with her Plastic Ono Band at “Yoko Ono & Friends To Japan With Love” for earthquake relief in 2011.

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Yoko Ono Performing in 2011

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Also a musician, Ono performed with her Plastic Ono Band at “Yoko Ono & Friends To Japan With Love” for earthquake relief in 2011.

14of 15Yoko Ono EvolvingBen A. Pruchnie/Getty ImagesSpeaking to PEOPLE in 2003, Ono mused that, “People think their world will get smaller as they get older. My experience is just the opposite. Your senses becomemore acute. You start to blossom.”

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Yoko Ono Evolving

Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Speaking to PEOPLE in 2003, Ono mused that, “People think their world will get smaller as they get older. My experience is just the opposite. Your senses becomemore acute. You start to blossom.”

15of 15Yoko Ono’s LegacySean Lennon and mom Yoko Ono.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicYoko Ono and John Lennon’s son Sean also grew up to be an artist. A Grammy award winner, Sean adorably asked the crowd to wish his mother a Happy Mother’s Day when he won his Oscar for Best Animated Short Film forWar Is Over!at last year’s ceremony.

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Yoko Ono’s Legacy

Sean Lennon and mom Yoko Ono.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s son Sean also grew up to be an artist. A Grammy award winner, Sean adorably asked the crowd to wish his mother a Happy Mother’s Day when he won his Oscar for Best Animated Short Film forWar Is Over!at last year’s ceremony.

source: people.com