Takashi Murakami, a Japanese artist and entrepreneur, was born on February 1, 1962, in Tokyo. He studied Japanese Painting at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1986 and a Ph.D. in 1993.

In 1980, Takashi Murakami enrolled in the nihonga department at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He later obtained master's and doctoral degrees, combining traditional Japanese painting techniques with contemporary art influences.

After underperforming in high school, Murakami decided to attend a college of art as he believed it was his only option. This decision eventually led him to develop his unique artistic style blending East-meets-West and high-meets-low aesthetics.

Takashi Murakami had his first solo show in 1989 at Tokyo's Ginza Surugadai Gallery, marking a significant milestone in his early career as an artist.

Takashi Murakami's two-dimensional, graphic design-like style known as 'superflat' was a celebration and parody of the 'otaku' genre, provoking concern and dispute over sexual identity within Japanese culture.

In 1992, Takashi Murakami engaged in performance art with the Osaka Mixer Project. This project was part of his early efforts in exploring contemporary artistic styles and media, showcasing his innovative approach to art.

After completing his education, Murakami graduated from graduate school, further honing his artistic skills and vision. This period of academic achievement laid the foundation for his future success in the art world.

In 1994, Takashi Murakami received a fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council and joined the PS1 International Studio Program in New York City. This experience exposed him to Western contemporary artists like Anselm Kiefer and Jeff Koons, inspiring his future artistic endeavors.

Takashi Murakami created a piece titled DOB's March in March 1995.

Following the establishment of Hiropon Factory in 1996, Takashi Murakami's studio/workshop developed into an art production and artist management company known as Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd.

In 1997, Takashi Murakami created the Hiropon sculpture, a pivotal work with a subversive edge that merged influences from Japanese otaku culture with contemporary art rules.

Murakami's artwork 'DOB in the Strange Forest (Blue DOB)' from 1999 features his alter-ego, DOB, in a complex Japanese landscape symbolizing resistance and critique of culture.

During his time in New York, Murakami developed the distinctive East-meets-West, high-meets-low aesthetic that would later define his artistic career. This experience was crucial in shaping his artistic identity and gaining recognition in the art world.

Flower Matango exhibition by Takashi Murakami in 2001-06 was inspired by the 1963 Japanese movie 'Matango' where monstrous mushrooms take over an island. Murakami's exhibition featured his iconic smiling flowers growing and spreading through the gallery space, symbolizing the unstoppable nature of pop culture imagery.

Time Magazine listed Takashi Murakami as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2002, making him the only visual artist included on the list.

ARTnews described Murakami's work as being in great demand in 2003. One of his sculptures, Hiropon, sold for a significant amount at Christie's auction house.

In 2005, CNN journalist Kristie Lu Stout conducted an interview with the renowned artist Takashi Murakami, providing an overview of his work and artistic vision.

Murakami collaborates with Louis Vuitton, creating designs that blur the line between art and commerce, generating over 300 million dollars.

An article in the New York Times described the Warhol of Japan pouring ritual tea in a Zen moment in May 2007.

In May 2008, Murakami's sculpture 'My Lonesome Cowboy' sold for $15.2 million at Sotheby's, becoming his most highly valued piece at that time.

From October 1, 2009, to January 17, 2010, Murakami and McG directed a short film 'Akihabara Majokko Princess' featuring Kirsten Dunst singing in Akihabara, Tokyo, shown at the 'Pop Life' exhibition in London's Tate Modern museum.

Takashi Murakami was interviewed by Alison Gingeras on August 1, 2010.

On June 21, 2011, Google featured a doodle tagged as 'First Day of Summer' created by Murakami. It was accompanied by a Winter Solstice doodle for the Southern Hemisphere.

In February 2012, Murakami opened an exhibition in Doha, Qatar titled Murakami-Ego, showcasing old and new works, including a 100-meter long wall painting depicting the Japanese people's suffering after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Jenny W. Hsu covers Takashi Murakami's creation of a monster movie aimed at educating children.

Kyoji Maeda explores the unexpected incorporation of religion in Takashi Murakami's art.

Matthew Israel reflects on Takashi Murakami's artistry post the Tōhoku disaster.

Kelly Crow covers Takashi Murakami's showcase of darker artworks in New York.

Kelly Crow discusses Takashi Murakami's transition from cute to devilish art style.

Takashi Murakami explores darker themes in his new art exhibition.

Takashi Murakami talks about his latest art exhibition centered around the theme of death and his film trilogy 'Jellyfish Eyes'.

In 2015, Takashi Murakami worked on 'Korin: Dark Matter' which features acrylic, gold leaf, and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on an aluminum frame. The artwork measures 63 × 59 ½ inches (160 × 151.1 cm).

In 2016, Takashi Murakami created an artwork titled 'To be titled' using acrylic and gold leaf on canvas. The piece is relatively smaller, measuring 15 ¾ × 15 ¾ inches (40 × 40 cm).

Darryl Wee conducts an interview with Takashi Murakami discussing his Superflat Collection.

In February 2018, 'future history' exhibition by Murakami & Abloh took place at Davies Street, London.

In June 2018, 'TECHNICOLOR 2' exhibition by Murakami & Abloh was held at rue de Ponthieu, Paris.

Takashi Murakami's exhibition 'Change the Rule!' was showcased from September 20 to November 10, 2018, in Hong Kong.

An article by Sara Roffino highlights the impact of Virgil Abloh and Takashi Murakami's collaborations.

In October 2018, a collaborative exhibition titled 'AMERICA TOO' by Murakami & Abloh took place in Beverly Hills.

Virgil Abloh and Takashi Murakami discuss their collaboration at Gagosian in an interview with Architectural Digest.

Takashi Murakami's exhibition 'GYATEI²' was held from February 21 to April 13, 2019, in Beverly Hills.

In March 2020, Takashi Murakami provided album cover designs and artwork for J Balvin's album 'Colores'. The vibrant Murakami-designed artwork was also used for merchandise related to the album release.

In April 2020, Supreme released a Box Logo Tee featuring artwork by Takashi Murakami. The proceeds from the sales were dedicated to supporting youth and families facing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Takashi Murakami discusses his unique art practice that combines traditional and modern techniques to create large paintings with a strong visual impact. He also talks about his collaborations with figures like Kanye West and Louis Vuitton to blur the lines between art and popular culture.

An article in Architectural Digest highlighting Takashi Murakami's iconic flowers transforming into NFTs, a digital art trend.

Takashi Murakami's exhibition 'An Arrow through History' is set to run from May 11 to June 25, 2022, at 980 Madison Avenue, New York.

An article in the New York Times discussing Takashi Murakami's approach to art, focusing on repainting the canvas pixel by pixel.

A large-scale retrospective at the Busan Museum of Art in South Korea, showcasing paintings, sculptures, installations, and video art by Takashi Murakami. The exhibition explores a 'zombie aesthetic' symbolizing collective anxiety in contemporary society and pop culture.

Takashi Murakami's exhibition titled 'Understanding the New Cognitive Domain' is scheduled to take place from June 10 to December 22, 2023, at Le Bourget.

The exhibition at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco features Takashi Murakami's works centered around monsters, addressing the complexities of the modern world. It includes large-scale paintings and sculptures, reflecting on the impact of the global pandemic and virtual interactions.

An exhibition held at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art to celebrate its ninetieth anniversary, showcasing around 170 works by Takashi Murakami. The artist's fascination with the history of Edo period painting is evident in the collection.

Takashi Murakami and curator Joan Cummins will discuss Murakami's new series of paintings inspired by Utagawa Hiroshige's 100 Famous Views of Edo at the Brooklyn Museum, coinciding with the exhibition. They will also reflect on Hiroshige's impact on global art history.

Smarthistory cites Takashi Murakami's work and contributions to contemporary art, highlighting his iconic character Mr. DOB and influences from sources like Star Wars, natural disasters, and fashion branding.

Takashi Murakami's exhibition 'Mononoke Kyoto' is on view at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, showcasing his unique artistic style.