Takashi Murakami (1962-) Japan

Japanese artist and sculptor Takashi Murakami works mainly with visual arts, graphic arts and digital art. Murakami studied at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he initially showed an interest in traditional art, but gradually focused more on contemporary Japanese art. He found inspiration in the works of artists such as Anselm Kiefer, Claes Oldenburg and Jeff Koons. The controversial sculpture “My Lonesome Cowboy” sold for over USD 15 million at Sotheby’s in 2008.