Born in February, 1962 in Tokyo, Japan, Takashi Murakami is one of the most prolific artists of his generation. As a child, he was a fan of anime and manga, and hoped to work in the illustration industry as an adult. As a young adult he attended Tokyo University of the Arts to study drawing and animating, but later shifted his field of study to the traditional style of Japanese painting called Nihonga. He received a Ph.D. in Nihonga, but throughout his life began to disapprove of its political influences. As such, he moved on to different art mediums and styles.
Murakami’s art style is what he himself refers to as “superflat.” He says that this describes the traditional Japanese art aesthetic combined philosophically with the post-war Japanese society (what he deems shallow and empty, or “flat,” consumer culture). It also directly references the “flat,” 2-d forms in much Japanese graphic art and used in his personal style. His art style combines both traditional Japanese motifs and modern symbols, generally uses glossy / flat surfaces, and “cute,” “psychedelic” content. Some examples of those motifs he commonly uses are mushrooms, smiling flowers, skulls, and symbols from Buddhist culture.
Aside from his flat, 2-d drawings, Murakami is known for his work in many other mediums as well. His fine arts portfolio also includes painting, sculpture, fashion design, merchandise design, and animation. His art is in high demand by collectors and museums. Aside from dozens of exhibitions around Japan and around the world, he is also featured in the permanent collections of many notorious museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, and was the first Japanese artist to exhibit at the Palace of Versailles. Time Magazine named him one of their “100 Most Influential People” in 2008.
Murakami is known for many great collaborations with other brands, artists, and companies. Aside from his Louis Vuitton carpet collaboration, he has worked with many big names in the fashion, music, and visual art industry. In the music world, he directed and animated the hugely popular video for Billie Eilish’s You Should See Me in a Crown, designed the cover artwork for J. Balvin’s 2020 album Colores, and has worked with music producer Pharrell Williams on both a sculpture and and animated music video. He also provided the cover artwork for the Graduation album by Kanye West, as well as animating a music video for him.
In the fashion world, Murakami has produced collaborations with many big brands as well. He began his partnership with Louis Vuitton in 2002, upon an invitation from well known designer Marc Jacobs. He reimagined the company’s iconic logo, and his interpretation has since become wildly popular. Murakami also later collaborated with Virgil Abloh, designer of hugely popular fashion brand Off-White. He’s also designed art for many t-shirts for luxury fashion brands, including the street fashion brand Supreme, with the proceeds from that collaboration going to relief for those facing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.