15 Things You Didn’t Know About Takashi Murakami

Takashi Murakami has built his empire on approachable, cross-genre art, mixing high and lowbrow styles and forms to conquer all audiences.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Think you know Takashi Murakami? The pop art king built his empire on approachable, cross-genre art, mixing high and lowbrow styles and forms to conquer all audiences—from the Gagosian and Versailles to Kanye West and Pharrell. He’s a fine artist, an entrepreneur, a businessman, and he’s also a whole lot of fun. Here are 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Takashi Murakami.

When vacationing on a small island he came across a dog with four new puppies. He wanted to adopt all four, but his studio staff cautioned against it. He kept one, and her name is Pom.

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He also loves facial sheet masks.

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He’s got a cartoon alter ego who often shows up in his work

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He loves to party.

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He has a great sense of humor.

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Pie-smashing aside, he doesn’t mind getting his hands (and feet) dirty in the studio.

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He’s into acupuncture.

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He finds inspiration everywhere.

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He’s collaborated with the likes of Pharrell, Louis Vuitton, and Kanye West.

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And he just dropped a sick collaboration with Vans.

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His artist collective Kaikai Kiki nurtures young artists like Mr. and Aya Takano, and fosters the growing SUPERFLAT movement.

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He made a feature film called Jellyfish Eyes. An homage to Japanese pop culture, it follows the adventures of a boy and his magical, mysterious friends, who aren’t what they seem.

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He’s not afraid to experiment with different motifs, spray-painting over existing work and creating something new, or variations on a theme.

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He has a studio of 50 people in Tokyo, and 20 in New York to assist him with painting and sculpture fabrication.

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And his snack game is super strong.

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