Takashi Muradami..your probably thinking you’ve never heard the name before, but surely you have come across his work before. Takashi Mruadami is an internationally known Japanese artist who has collaborated with a number of exciting artists and well established companies in producing amazing pieces of work. He was also named on Times list of 100 most influential people in 2008, being recognized as the only visual, fine art artist on the list. All his work comes from his own uniquely designed art style called Superflat, a process of combing flat planes with colorful images. The images usually consists of anime characters or as Takashi calls Poku, the new modern art of Japanese culture. Poku is the combination of Otaku art and Pop culture characteristics.
As recognized as he is within the art community, Takashi has also made himself a notable presence within the fashion industry. In 2002 Takashi collaborated with Louis Vuitton on a collection of handbags and purses that became widely popular. Selling for over $5000 a bag, the collection was on such high demand that people were put on waiting lists. Since then Takashi’s art his since exploded into a number of product lines. Art Magazine claimed Takashi’s art as the most desired art in the world. In 2008 at a Sotheboyes auction, “My Lonesome Cowboy” a sculpture of a masturbating figure sold for $15.2 million, Takashi’s highest sale to date. Takashi continues to sell many of his artworks at auctions throughout the world and paints wall murals at many art galleries and museums. In 2009, Takashi working with Louis Vuitton agained produced the first ever artists designed QR Code.
If your still wondering around trying to think of where else you may have seen Takashis work, then take a peek at the image below.
Yes, Kanye West and Takashi Muradami collaborated on one of Kanye’s most popular CD’s Gradution. I’m sure you’ve noticed the little space bear in other random places as well being that it is one of Kanye’s trademark images. Takashi also had his work exhibited by Google on June 21, 2011 during the beginning of the summer.
At some point I would love to get a hold of some his art book collections that hes put together. His art strays within the anime category but differentiates itself in being presented in a much richer, delicate style from other artists. When one looks at his work, they can sense a different type of beautyness that makes his figures seem much more deeply involved than they seem to be. What would you think would be a great collaboration for Takashi Muradami?
