Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
6HP DOB Michel Majerus
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"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.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: To celebrate this issue's cover star, Michel Majerus, Takashi Murakami decided to turn his painting 6HP DOB into a limited edition print. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
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.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2020
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Giclee Print; catalog dimensions 65 x 105 cm; Archival pigment print on Canson Velin pure cotton paper, 300?g - 26?×?41??in.?/?65?×?105??cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: To celebrate this issue's cover star, Michel Majerus, Takashi Murakami decided to turn his painting 6HP DOB into a limited edition print.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Takashi Murakami's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: 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. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2020 and attributes the edition to Blau International.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Blau International. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Kaikai Kiki — official studio site — Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official studio/company site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Takashi Murakami — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Takashi Murakami (Q352437) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
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.
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