Takashi Murakami, The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, 2026

One of the most acclaimed artists to emerge from post-war Asia, Takashi Murakami is known for his signature “Superflat” aesthetic: a colourful, two-dimensional style that straddles the division between fine art and pop culture as it unites elements of anime, Japanese nihonga, and ukiyo-e woodcuts.

Common motifs across Murakami’s oeuvre - which spans paintings, sculptures, prints, and more - include smiling flowers, bears, and the Mickey Mouse - inspired character Mr. DOB. They also appear throughout Murakami’s thriving market for merchandise and collectibles. Murakami has presented at institutions including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, MoMA PS1, Mori Art Museum, Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum, Museum für Moderne Kunst, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, among others, and his work has sold for millions on the secondary market. Murakami also runs a large influential art production and artist management company, the Tokyo-based Kaikai Kiki Co.