Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
A Child's Panda Hugging A Flower Ball
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"A Child's Panda Hugging A Flower Ball" (2020) is a 50 x 50 cm silkscreen released in a first edition of 100 by Takashi Murakami's Kaikai Kiki gallery, Tonari no Zingaro. The print pairs two of the artist's signature motifs — a rounded panda character and his ubiquitous grinning flower — into a single tender composition. Its compact square format and tight edition make it a concentrated example of Murakami's Superflat character world.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 100. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The work fuses Murakami's most recognizable device — the multicolored smiling flower — with a soft panda figure, distilling his brand of "kawaii" pop into a single embrace. Issued through his own Tonari no Zingaro outlet in a first edition of only 100, it represents the artist-controlled, gallery-direct release model that defines his most sought-after screen prints and keeps supply deliberately limited.
Collector Perspective
For collectors, the appeal lies in the low edition of 100 and the direct Tonari no Zingaro provenance, which anchors authenticity to Murakami's own gallery. The 50 x 50 cm square format suits intimate framing, and the panda-and-flower pairing is instantly legible as Murakami. Buyers should confirm the print is the numbered first edition and verify condition of the roughly 406 x 373 mm image area within the full sheet.
Historical Context
By 2020 Murakami had spent two decades building his Superflat vocabulary, in which the smiling flower and rounded characters like this panda operate as recurring emblems bridging fine art and merchandise. Tonari no Zingaro, his Nakano Broadway gallery-shop, became a primary channel for small-edition prints released directly to fans, positioning works like this one within his ongoing project of collapsing high and low culture.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2020
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 50 x 50 cm; Silkscreen.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 100.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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: By 2020 Murakami had spent two decades building his Superflat vocabulary, in which the smiling flower and rounded characters like this panda operate as recurring emblems bridging fine art and merchandise. 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 Tonari No Zingaro.
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 Tonari No Zingaro. 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
How large is the edition?
This is a first edition of 100 silkscreens, making it a tightly limited release by Murakami print standards.
What are the dimensions?
The full sheet measures 50 x 50 cm (500 x 500 mm), with a printed image area of approximately 406 x 373 mm.
Who published this print?
It was released through Tonari no Zingaro, Takashi Murakami's own Kaikai Kiki gallery-shop located in Nakano Broadway, Tokyo.
What imagery does it feature?
It depicts a rounded panda character embracing one of Murakami's signature multicolored smiling flowers, combining two of his best-known motifs.
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