Takashi Murakami - one of the most provocative and influential japanese artists (currently living in New York). He got a doctorate in Nihonga (a style of painting that has been made in accordance with Japanese traditional art), but gave it up focusing more on contemporary art influenced by anime or manga. That influenced him to create a new art movement called 'superflat'.
"The term is Murakami's own, his manifesto on the way various forms of graphic design, pop culture and fine arts are compressed -- flattened -- in Japan. The term also refers to the two-dimensionality of Japanese graphic art and animation, as well as to the shallow emptiness of its consumer culture. Murakami first used it to label an exhibition he organized for the PARCO department store museums in Tokyo and Nagoya."
Murakami is also known as a great businessman who runs his own production company - 'Kaikai Kiki LLC'. He openly admits that Bill Gates is one of his biggest influences and that he incorporated some ideas from Gates' book 'Speed of Thought' into his business.
So, it doesn't matter if you want to spend a couple of thousand dollars on one of his Louis Vuitton bags or just a buck on a key chain - he's got it all.
www.takashimurakami.com/



KaiKai Doll



My Lonesome Cowboy



Flower Ball



Kaikai With Moss