Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is one of the biggest names in the contemporary art world. Murakami’s style blurs the lines between “high” art – works typically seen in galleries or museums – with “low” art, such as cartoons or advertisements. Throughout the development of his career, he has come to coin his own stylistic term for his work dubbed as “Superflat”.
Takashi Murakami was born in Tokyo, Japan on February 1, 1962. His influence for art derives from his mother, who studied needlepoint and designed textiles. Murakami knew he wanted to be an artist when he grew up, and had always taken a large interest in animation and comics. He studied art throughout much of his adolescence, and applied to study at Tokyo National University. He was accepted and later received his Ph.D. in Fine Arts and Music, in which he learned “Nihong”, or traditional Japanese painting. After his studies, Murakami moved to New York in 1994 and was exposed to, and inspired by, Western contemporary artists like Jeff Koons.
Murakami is often compared to Andy Warhol for his art-as-business approach, and for his factories of workers who produce, market and sell his art. Murakami style is heavily inspired and derived from anime, manga, and the Japanese concept of kawaii, or ‘cute’. He merges Japan’s artistic and social history with contemporary pop culture, and creates bright, lively masterpieces that lure the audience in.
He has collaborated with fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton, pop culture magazine Complex, and American artist Kanye West. Murakami is frequently exhibited in galleries and museums across the globe including the Palace of Versailles, Museum of Modern Art, Tate Liverpool, and more.
Takashi Murakami continues to release valuable works of fine art, as well as inexpensive pieces as he tries to diminish the lines between the two. He is constantly traveling for exhibitions, working on new collaborations, and maintains his presence as a vital part of Pop-Art today. Martin Lawrence Galleries is proud to have select works.
