Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami may be famous among collectors for the psychedelic flowers and chaotic cartoons that populate his prints and paintings, but artists likely know him as the theorist behind the contemporary art movement he calls “Superflat.”
Partially inspired by the Pop art of Andy Warhol, in which celebrity culture and mundane mass-produced items became the focus of bright and colorful works that both celebrated and criticized consumerism, Murakami’s Superflat encompasses painting, sculpture, digital design and more to present a subversive look at consumerism but is also an effort to blend fine art and lowbrow culture.
A multifaceted and remarkably influential artist as well as a compulsive art collector, Murakami has collaborated with brands such as Louis Vuitton, while one of his most famous Superflat works is the teddy bear on the cover of the Graduation album by American rapper Kanye West.
In 1993 Murakami earned his Ph.D. from Tokyo University of the Arts, where he was trained in nihonga, a style of painting that originated in the late 19th century by artists who worked to preserve and promote the conventions and processes associated with traditional Japanese art. While practicing nihonga, Murakami began to realize that his beliefs didn’t align with the tradition, so his art subsequently took on a satirical feel that embodied a critique of the movement. Before long, his style took a drastic turn, embracing otaku, a rising postwar cultural phenomenon among Japan’s younger crowd who loved anime and manga. (Otaku is also integral to Superflat.)
This is when Murakami’s most well-known character, Mr. DOB, was born. This anime-inspired icon, which Americans might interpret as a cross between Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat given its pronounced ears and broad and menacing grin, was part of the artist’s endeavor to elevate the otaku subculture but also to target mass consumerism. While Murakami conceived of Mr. DOB years ahead of his 2000-era Superflat theory, there is much common ground between the two. Not unlike his other creations, Murakami’s Mr. DOB is equal parts erotic, disturbing and cartoonish — an incisive mockery of the mingling of commerce and fine art so prevalent in Japanese popular culture.
Find original Takashi Murakami prints, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Vapor Trail Offset Lithograph Print, Contemporary and Signed Art
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Bristol, GB
Offset lithograph on smooth wove paper Edition 84 of 300 52.5 x 52.5 cm (20.7 x 20.7 in) 55 x 55 x 2.5 cm, 21.7 x 21.7 x 1 in Signed and numbered on the front Artwork mint, as issued...
Lithograph, Offset
Flowers for Algernon Offset Print, Contemporary, Signed, 21st Century
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Bristol, GB
Offset print 4 colours, foil printing and coater varnish Edition 110 of 300 56 cm (22.1 in) Signed and numbered on front Mint Published by KaiKai KiKi
Offset
Contemporary Signed Lithograph Print of Flowers, Ed. 248/300, 60x60 cm
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Bristol, GB
Offset lithograph Edition 248 of 300 60 x 60 cm (23.6 x 23.6 in) Signed and numbered on the front Mint Published by Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd
Lithograph
Flowers Blooming in the Isle of the Dead, Limited Edition Signed Print
By Takashi Murakami
Located in San Rafael, CA
Takashi Murakami (b. 1962) Flowers Blooming in the Isle of the Dead, 2022 Offset lithograph in colors on smooth wove paper 28 inches (71.1 cm) diameter (sheet) Ed. 102/300 Signed and...
Offset
$2,900
Kansei (2010). Limited Edition (print) by Takashi Murakami signed, numbered
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Kansei: Like The River's Flow 2010 by Takashi Murakami Offset print, cold stamp and high gloss varnishing with silver ink signed, numbered and stamped by the Artist 27 7/8 in diamete...
Offset
Takashi Murakami - Sincerity to You - Pop, Japanese, Editon of 300
By Takashi Murakami
Located in London, GB
Takashi Murakami Sincerity to You, 2023 Offset lithograph Hand signed and numbered by Takashi Murakami. Edition of 300 71 cm diameter - Sheet size published by Kaikai Kiki Co. ...
Lithograph, Offset
Wild Pastels (XL)
By Lee Herring
Located in Deddington, GB
Wild Pastels (XL) by Lee Herring [2021] original Mixed Media Image size: H:96 cm x W:98 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:96 cm x W:98 cm x D:0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that...
Paper
$749
H 17.75 in W 23 in D 0.05 in
Vintage Andy Warhol Perrier Poster, Original 1983 Pop Art Lithograph, Mint
By Andy Warhol
Located in Spokane, WA
Original 1983 Andy Warhol Perrier Poster – Authentic Pop Art Masterpiece. Grade A. Preserved in mint condition, this poster is a rare find for serious collectors of Andy Warhol and...
Offset
$1,200
H 39.25 in W 25.25 in D 0.75 in
Herman Miller Summer Picnic August 20, 1971 - Watermelon Screen Print
Located in Houston, TX
Original Herman Miller Summer Picnic screen printed lacquer ink and lacquer finish print. August 20, 1971 annual company picnic poster is a...
Lacquer, Ink
$343
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in
Fish Says Fuck You All - 80 x 60 cm, Off-set lithography
By David Shrigley
Located in London, GB
80 x 60 cm Off-set lithography Printed on 200g Munken Lynx paper Narayana Press in Denmark David Shrigley is a British visual artist known for his distinctive, whimsical, and often ...
Lithograph, Offset
$135,000
H 19.75 in W 15.625 in
Dollar Sign, FS II.277 Screenprint, Pop Art, 1982, Signed
By Andy Warhol
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Andy Warhol Dollar Sign, FS II.277 1982 Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board 19 3/4 x 15 5/8 in. 48/60 - Each Piece is Unique Pencil signed and numbered Conditi...
Screen
$1,150
H 7 in W 7 in
COSMIC FLOWERS Signed Lithograph, Abstract Floral, Happy Colors, Blue Red Yellow
By Peter Max
Located in Union City, NJ
Cosmic Flowers is an original hand drawn lithograph by Peter Max printed using traditional hand lithography techniques on archival Arches paper, 100% aci...
Lithograph
Love Is What You Want
By Tracey Emin
Located in London, GB
2015 Offset lithographic poster 70 x 50 cm Edition of 500 Hand signed by Emin Published by Emin International Tracey Emin (born 1963) is best known for her intimate, authentic, auto...
Paper, Lithograph, Offset
Two Pembroke Studio Chairs
By David Hockney
Located in London, GB
A striking original lithograph from Hockney's popular The Moving Focus series with Cubist influences. Hockney depicts his studio interior with varying perspectives, shadows, views an...
Handmade Paper, Lithograph
Flowers, Walasse Ting
By Walasse Ting
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Walasse Ting (1929-2010) Title: Flowers Year: 1981 Edition: 111/200 Medium: Lithograph on Waterford paper Size: 22 x 30 inches Inscription: Signed and numbered by the artist ...
Lithograph
$3,500
H 35.5 in W 26.5 in D 1 in
David Hockney - Paris Review 25th Anniversary coveted Limited Ed. poster, Framed
By David Hockney
Located in New York, NY
David Hockney Offset lithograph poster on lithographic paper The image depicted on this poster is after David Hockney's original gouache "Flower Study" created in 1980. Limited Edit...
Offset
$5,950
H 7.2 in W 7.2 in
Andy Warhol - Flowers, Galerie Sonnabend invitation card addressed with postmark
By Andy Warhol
Located in New York, NY
Andy Warhol (after) Flowers, Galerie Sonnabend announcement invitation card, 1970 Offset lithograph on smooth card, addressed with postmark This rarely found announcement card was fo...
Lithograph, Offset
$500
H 24 in W 19.5 in
Georgia O'Keeffe - Limited Edition Flower Poster with beautiful Friendship Quote
By Georgia O'Keeffe
Located in New York, NY
Georgia O'Keeffe, Red Poppy poster, with Friendship Quote, 1987 "Still - in a way - nobody sees a flower - it is so small - we haven't time- and to see takes time, like to have a fr...
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in
The nether world Limited Edition (print) by Takashi Murakami signed and numbered
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Nether World, 2018 by Takashi Murakami Offset print, numbered and signed by the artist 23 3/5 × 23 3/5 in 60 × 60 cm Edition 212/300 Takashi Murakami is best known for his con...
Offset
Sold
H 27.96 in Dm 27.96 in
The Golden Age: Kōrin Limited Edition (print) by Murakami signed, numbered
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Golden Age: Kōrin - Kansei 2014 by Takashi Murakami Offset print, cold stamp and high gloss varnishing with golden ink signed, numbered and stamped by the Artist 27 7/8 in diamet...
Offset
Sold
H 30.16 in W 36.23 in
Forest Koropokuru. Limited Edition (print) by Takashi Murakami signed
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Forest Koropokuru, 2020 by Takashi Murakami Offset print with silver and high gloss varnishing 30 1/5 × 36 1/5 in 76.6 × 92 cm Edition 33/300 Takash...
Offset
Sold
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in
The nether world Limited Edition (print) by Takashi Murakami signed and numbered
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Nether World, 2018 by Takashi Murakami Offset print, numbered and signed by the artist 23 3/5 × 23 3/5 in 60 × 60 cm Edition 27/300 Sold with a new white wood frame. Takashi Mu...
Offset