Murakami art just makes me happy, automatically.

Murakami is a totallygenius Japanese artist who has built a small empire by creating highly commercial- but very original and compelling- art that he then productizes by putting his images on fashion items, luggage, t-shirts, and vinyl figurines, as well as manga/anime and TV/Movies. I totally admire Murakami's work because I think he has done an amazing thing by seamlessly blending his business and his art into one coherent- and apparently quite profitable- whole! Achieving such an integration of my passions and my career is a personal goal of mine and seeing Murakami do it in such a visually compelling and ground-breaking way is awesome. This book gives a great overview of his work and contains several very worthwhile essays about the importance and method of his work/business. If you dig Japanese pop culture or consider yourself to be a "cultural creative," you must check out Murakami's work.

He is the new Andy Warhol. Kai-Kai and Kiki Inc. is the "Factory".
Take a look at the young artists he launches too.

a collection of takashi's design career

I had seen his exhibition at the MOCA the end of last year, and it was my second favorite after the BCAM currently at LACMA... his signature character DOB is Mickey Mouse's mutant spawn, the Disney DNA warped from the nuclear fallout of American influence -- both geopolitical and cultural.

So whether you love him for his political twists, or his LV and Kanye collabs, you'll love this book...

I may never own an authentic Murakami pillow or LV collab. bag but at least I'll get to look at all the pretty pictures.