The Malvern School�s artist of the month takes students across the globe with Takashi Murakami, a contemporary artist born and raised in Tokyo,
Japan. Takashi was born on February 1
st, 1962, and was inspired at a young age by his mother�s designed textile art. Early on in his life, Takashi was a fan of anime and manga (Japanese comics) and hoped to work in the animation industry. Murakami went on to study
nihonga, traditional Japanese painting, at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Ph.D. He found similarities in his traditional painting and the simplified style of anime and manga. From this, Takashi developed his own artistic movement known as Superflat. Superflat emphasizes 2-D forms and bold, striking imagery. Takashi Murakami�s wide-ranging work blends pop culture, history, and fine art; most popularly known for his ability to take the ideas and concepts of traditional Japanese art and use them in pop culture. He has collaborated with Louis Vuitton, Vans, Pharrell Williams, Google, Macy�s, and more. In 2008, Murakami was named one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People," the only visual artist included, and remains one of the most respected, innovative, and influential artists of our time.
Learning Link: Students practiced Superflat art by creating their own version of "Jellyfish Eyes" by Takashi Murakami!
