Takashi / Kanye

A Takashi Murakami Portrait of Kanye

Kanye approached Murakami after seeing his “Superflat” work, which mixes Japanese anime/manga aesthetics with fine art. He publicly praised Murakami as a genius, and Murakami called Kanye a true artist who thought visually as much as musically. Their partnership was mutually beneficial: Kanye gained credibility in the art world, while Murakami reached a huge pop audience beyond museums and galleries.