25 of the Best Takashi Murakami Collaborations
This article was republished on February 1 in recognition of Takashi Murakami's 60th birthday
Few pop artists have ticked more boxes than Takashi Murakami. His resume includes the likes of fashion titans like Louis Vuitton and Vogue, iconic musicians Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, and some of the most coveted clothing labels from around the world, not limited to Supreme, COMME des GARÇONS and visvim. Aside from pioneering his own style of Japanese anime melded with pop culture artwork, Murakami is a staunch supporter of philanthropic causes, while he also manages the careers of several younger artists and organizes the biannual art fair GEISAI.
Check out 25 of Takashi Murakami's best collaborative projects below ahead of his upcoming work with French mineral water brand, Perrier.
Takashi Murakami x Kid Cudi x Kanye West Kids See Ghosts Show
Kid Cudi teased a new animated show in collaboration with Kanye West in June of 2020. The teaser clip for the project, named after Cudi and Kanye's 2018 album, Kids See Ghosts, was directed by Murakami. The show finds Cudi voicing a fox, while Kanye voices a bear similar to the one used in promotion for his early albums.
Takashi Murakami x Supreme Box Logo T-Shirt
In April 2020, Supreme released a special edition box logo tee featuring original artwork by Takashi Murakami. The artist's unmistakable flower motif was incorporated into Supreme's iconic box logo, making it a must-have. All proceeds from the T-shirt were given to HELP USA, an organization that supports vulnerable groups facing homelessness during COVID-19. The collaborative project raised over $1 million for charity.
Takashi Murakami x Billie Eilish x Uniqlo T-Shirts
The artist's most recent collaboration with Uniqlo welcomed singer-songwriter Billie Eilish into the mix. The joint effort, inspired by Eilish's "You Should See Me In A Crown" music video, which Murakami also worked on, consisted of 12 T-shirts, including four children's options.
Takashi Murakami x Crocs Classic Clog
Murakami's Crocs collaboration was released exclusively at ComplexCon in 2019. Inspired by his vibrant illustrative style, the Crocs were decorated in a multicolor camouflage, then featuring a teddy bear Jibbitz charm and his smiling daisy on the strap. The footwear was also adorned with a special graphic on the insole and outsole.
Takashi Murakami x J Balvin Colores Album Artwork
Prior to their collaboration, J Balvin had admittedly been wanting to work with Takashi Murakami for years. And seeing as the title of his fifth studio album was Colores, there was no better time to show color than through Murakami's signature flowers. In addition to the album artwork, Balvin and Murakami also teamed up on a range of Colores merch, consisting of T-shirts and hoodies.
Takashi Murakami x PORTER FW19
In 2019, Murakami released a baggage collection with PORTER. The collaboration consisted of a rucksack, two-way helmet bag, and waist bag, each incorporating the artist's iconic flower motif. The eyes and smile were stitched into PORTER's signature green nylon, as PORTER branding patches were implemented throughout.
Takashi Murakami x OVO Hoodie
OVO dropped a highly sought-after hoodie in collaboration with Takashi Murakami after Drake was first spotted in the garment. The artist's familiar flower motif was featured on the OVO owl on the front of the black pullover hoodie.
Takashi Murakami x Virgil Abloh “AMERICA TOO” T-Shirt
Takashi Murakami and Virgil Abloh teamed up for a joint exhibition in 2018, titled AMERICA TOO. Accompanying the artwork on display at the Gagosian in Beverly Hills was a limited edition T-shirt that released through the gallery's online shop. The tee featured design elements used on large-scale sculptures and paintings, and was priced at a whopping $369. Needless to say, all 500 units sold out.
Takashi Murakami x Billionaire Boys Club Accessories
One of Murakami's numerous collaborations with Billionaire Boys Club, his 2018 accessory lineup drew from his “Superflat” style. Some of the artist's most recognizable works were recreated on cushions, keychains, and other playful goods, as his flowers and octopus incorporated multicolored designs.
Takashi Murakami x Vault by Vans
Murakami's Vans Vault collection from 2015 showcased two of the artist's recurring motifs in the smiling flower and skull patterns. Inspired by traditional Japanese art, anime, and pop culture, the collaboration included Murakami's favorite Vans silhouette, the classic Slip-On, as well as graphic T-shirts and skate decks.
"Last Night, Good Night (Re:Dialed)" - Pharrell Williams Remix
Naturally, a cartoon Pharrell wearing his signature Vivienne Westwood hat features amongst dancing robots and Sailor Moon-esque anime characters in this Murakami-powered video. Created in conjunction with Murakami's Jellyfish Eyes film, the music video is set to a remix of the movie's theme song "Last Night, Good Night." The film highlights the Japanese artist's signature approach to colors and sheer, unadulterated imagination.
Takashi Murakami x Damien Hirst x Lionel Messi
Widely regarded as the most talented footballer of the modern age, FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi was overlayed on a circular backdrop of Murakami flowers, for an initiative that was aimed at providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in Asia. As a UNICEF ambassador, the Argentinian attacker featured on a wide range of works, which were auctioned at Sotheby’s in London.
Takashi Murakami x Billionaire Boys Club "JELLYFISH EYES" T-Shirt
Another article that was rolled out for Murakami's Jellyfish Eyes film, this co-branded T-shirt alongside Billionaire Boys Club was most likely facilitated by longtime friend and collaborator Pharrell Williams. In place of the well-liked BBC graphics that we have seen season after season, one of Murakami's anime-inspired caricatures adorns the front of the tee.
Takashi Murakami x Hajime Asaoka "Death Takes No Bribe" Tourbillon Watch
In 2013, Murakami put pen to paper with independent Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka for a custom timepiece. Thematically, the phrase “Death Takes No Bribe" served as the main inspiration for the project, which is characterized by dark flower and skull imagery in Murakami’s trademark style. The covetable watch made its premiere at the Academie Horlogere des Createurs Independants watch fair in Basel, Switzerland.
Takashi Murakami x Kaws for Christie's
Renowned as visual artists in their own rights, Takashi Murakami teamed up with Brian Donnely aka KAWS and Christie's auction house to raise funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern part of Japan in 2011. Based around a Spongebob Squarepants motif, the piece was titled Kawsbob Enters the Strange Forest, and fetched a lofty hammer price of $155,000.
Takashi Murakami x Google "Solstice"
To coincide with the summer solstice of 2011, Google's homepage was decorated with two different doodled courtesy of Takashi Murakami. Stylistically, the images reflected Murakami's concept of "Superflat," which refers to an art movement that attempts to introduce the international art scene to Japanese artists, animators, cartoonists and more.
Takashi Murakami for Macy's
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2010 was the venue for several of Murakami's cartoon characters to come to life, when 30-foot-tall inflatable versions of Kaikai and Kiki - two of the most recognizable figures from Murakami's catalog - made their way down West 81st Street in Manhattan. What's more - Murakami himself joined in the parade, but not before throwing on a flower costume of his own design.
Takashi Murakami x Britney Spears for POP Magazine
A 2010 issue of British fashion imprint POP Magazine featured this mashup of Britney Spears and Takashi Murakami visuals. Although the publication is headquartered in the UK, the cover features a quintessentially Japanese style of imagery. Perhaps an unexpected choice for the "Oops, I Did It Again" songstress, yet the result was oddly memorable.
Takashi Murakami x Casio G-SHOCK Frogman Watch
For art collectors that may be used to paying tens of thousands of dollars for a Murakami original, the price tag of this collaboration alongside G-SHOCK must have been a breath of fresh air. Limited to 300 pieces and originally retailing for around $4,000 when it dropped in 2010, the Frogman iteration came in a custom display case and featured the subtle use of Murakami graphics throughout.
Takashi Murakami x Kirsten Dunst x McG "Akihabara Majokko Princess"
2009's exhibition at London's Tate Modern museum, "Pop Life: Art in a Material World," included a somewhat unexpected partnership between Takashi and Kirsten Dunst, who provided the vocals for a cover of "Turning Japanese" by the English new wave rock band The Vapors. The cover was included in a four-minute film directed by one of Hollywood's biggest commercial directors McG, while the video itself showed Dunst donning a blue wig and bright pink skirt.
Takashi Murakami x Louis Vuitton
Certainly one of the most prolific collaborations in Murakami's career, this project with Louis Vuitton saw Murakami graphics used on a range of Louis bags, while the highlight of the collaboration was arguably the range of custom Monogramouflage patterned pieces. With Marc Jacobs at the helm of the initiative, the collaboration was by-and-large a huge success for Louis Vuitton, as well as for Murakami, who was propelled further into the public eye.
Takashi Murakami x Pharrell Williams "The Simple Things"
For Art Basel Miami, Murakami linked up once again with Pharrell, while the duo brought Jacob the Jeweller on board to produce a rather schizophrenic sculpture titled Simple Things. Crafted from glass fiber, steel, acrylic, wood, LED lights and various objects (a bottle of Heinz ketchup, a Billionaire Boys Club sneaker, a bag of Doritos and a cupcake) made of gold, set with rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds, the illustrious sculpture never actually went on sale.
Takashi Murakami x VISVIM KEIFER Hi-Suede "Multi Flower"
Although it wasn't the only occasion that Murakami was tapped by visvim for a sneaker, this "Multi Flower" iteration of the VISVIM KEIFER Hi-Suede silhouette was produced circa 2008. As per Murakami's modus operandi, a floral pattern dominates the upper of the hi-top sneaker, which also spills over onto the tongue.
Takashi Murakami x Supreme Skate Decks
Supreme has a penchant like none other for picking the best and brightest collaborative partners. In 2007, Takashi Murakami joined the ranks of Todd James, Peter Saville, Larry Clark, Roy Lichtenstein and other artists who have collaborated with the legendary New York-based brand. A total of three decks were released, once again utilizing the anime-inspired characters from Murakami's past archive of works.
Takashi Murakami x Vogue x COMME des GARÇONS
In 2009, Takashi Murakami linked up with Vogue Nippon and COMME des GARÇONS to produce materials for a Tokyo-based pop-up shop. One of Murakami's signature characters was worked into a limited T-shirt, which was cooked up to celebrate the opening of the so-called “Magazine Alive” store, which at the time purveyed goods from UNDERCOVER and Maison Margiela, as well as goods bearing manga likenesses of Hedi Slimane, Marc Jacobs, and Donatella Versace.
