Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
6HP DOB Michel Majerus
Summary
"6HP DOB Michel Majerus" (2020) is an archival pigment print that stages Murakami's signature Mr. DOB character against the pictorial language of the late Luxembourgian painter Michel Majerus. Issued in an edition of 100 by Blau International and printed on Canson Velin pure cotton at 65 by 105 cm, the sheet is signed by the artist. It reads as a posthumous "collaboration" between two painters who never met.
Why It Matters
The print marks a distinct chapter in Murakami's practice: rather than mining his own Superflat lexicon alone, he absorbs and recombines another artist's imagery. Made to accompany a Blau publication spotlighting Majerus, "6HP DOB" turns editorial homage into an autonomous artwork, letting Mr. DOB inhabit Majerus's sampling aesthetic. It documents how Murakami reads painting history as raw material for remix.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of 100, this is a tightly held sheet, and the artist's signature anchors its collectibility. The generous 65 by 105 cm scale and heavy Canson cotton stock give it wall presence beyond a standard editioned print. Its appeal skews toward collectors who value crossover concept pieces and Mr. DOB imagery over the more ubiquitous smiling-flower motifs. A considered, less obvious Murakami hold.
Historical Context
Michel Majerus (1967-2002), a painter who fused pop, digital, and appropriation strategies, died young in a plane crash and has been steadily reassessed since. Around 2020 Murakami began openly appropriating Majerus's imagery, crossbreeding it with his own Mr. DOB iconography. "6HP DOB," published by Blau International to honor Majerus as a cover subject, sits squarely within that late-career dialogue between homage and remix.
FAQ
Is this print signed and numbered?
The sheet is hand-signed by Takashi Murakami and comes from a stated edition of 100. The source material confirms the signature; collectors should verify individual numbering and any accompanying documentation directly with the seller.
What is Mr. DOB?
Mr. DOB is Murakami's recurring cartoon avatar, a mouse-like character built from the letters D-O-B whose ever-mutating form has served as a self-portrait and mascot throughout his Superflat project since the 1990s.
Who was Michel Majerus and why does he appear here?
Majerus was a Luxembourgian painter (1967-2002) known for appropriation and pop-digital collage. Murakami, describing an obsession with the late artist, folded Majerus's imagery into his own for this Blau International edition celebrating Majerus.
What are the print's materials and size?
It is an archival pigment (giclee) print on Canson Velin pure cotton paper, 300 gsm, measuring 65 by 105 cm (roughly 26 by 41 inches), printed by Mengershausen Editionen in Germany.
About the Artist
Takashi Murakami (b. 1962, Tokyo) is one of the most influential artists of the postwar era, credited with dissolving the boundary between fine art and popular culture. Trained in Nihonga, the tradition of Japanese painting, he earned a PhD from the Tokyo University of the Arts before formulating Superflat — a theory connecting the flattened perspective of Edo-period painting to the visual language of anime, manga, and consumer culture. Through his studio and company Kaikai Kiki, Murakami has produced paintings, sculpture, film, and a vast catalogue of prints populated by recurring characters such as Mr. DOB, his smiling flowers, and the mascots Kaikai and Kiki. His high-profile collaborations — with Louis Vuitton, Kanye West, and others — helped define the modern intersection of art, fashion, and streetwear.
Collecting Takashi Murakami at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Takashi Murakami prints?
Gauntlet Gallery sources Murakami prints and editions through established secondary-market channels and vets each piece for authenticity and condition before listing.
How are Murakami prints authenticated?
Most Kaikai Kiki editions are numbered and accompanied by documentation. We verify edition details, publisher, and condition, and note any certificates or stamps present on the individual piece.
What drives value in a Murakami print?
Edition size, character (flowers, Mr. DOB, and Kaikai/Kiki motifs are especially sought), production quality (silkscreen and cold-stamp finishes over plain offset), condition, and any collaboration or exhibition tie-in all influence collector demand.