Kaikai Kiki And Me

 We love how Murakami’s work is the intersection between art, fantasy and popular culture. The artist has even coined the term ”superflat” to best describe this unique blend of cultural commentary. This phrase is now widely adopted, and is often used in reference to Japanese manga and anime.  Murakami studied at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he earned his BA, MfA, and PhD. He studied the art of Nihonga, a painting style that draws on the traditional Japanese artistic techniques and subjects. He still uses these techniques in his work today. In 1996 the artist established his own artist management company Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd. that is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the developing careers of young Japanese artists. Murakami has also collaborated with various fashion designers. His first collection with Louis Vuitton catapulted him to fame. The artist’s designs were featured on a series of handbags where he re-imagined the company's famous monogram, and achieved great commercial success. The artist has also worked with a variety of musicians such as Kanye West, Billie Eilish and J Balvin. In 2020, Murakami worked with Supreme to produce a t-shirt with all profits going to HELP USA, a charity providing aid to vulnerable families during the Covid-19 pandemic.