Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Atop A Ball Of Flowers, A Panda Cub Sleeps Soundly
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Atop a Ball of Flowers, a Panda Cub Sleeps Soundly" is a 2020 silkscreen by Takashi Murakami, issued in an edition of 100 through his Tonari no Zingaro gallery. Measuring 50 x 50 cm with a 406 x 373 mm image, the print pairs Murakami's signature smiling flowers with a slumbering panda cub, a tender, storybook composition rendered in his crisp Superflat vocabulary.
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 print distills Murakami's Superflat philosophy: dense flat color, hard silkscreen edges, and a saccharine surface that flirts with kawaii while nodding to Japanese pictorial tradition. The narrative title, phrased like a picture-book caption, extends his practice of framing characters as folklore. As a small edition of 100 from Tonari no Zingaro, it sits squarely in the accessible, artist-published tier collectors seek.
Collector Perspective
At 50 x 50 cm and an edition of 100, this is an approachable entry into Murakami's print corpus, favoring intimacy over the scale of his larger flower editions. Collectors should verify sheet dimensions (500 x 500 mm), image size, the 2020 copyright line, and pencil signature and numbering typical of Tonari no Zingaro releases. Condition, flat storage, and unfaded color are central to a square silkscreen like this.
Historical Context
Tonari no Zingaro, Murakami's gallery in Tokyo's Nakano Broadway, publishes his prints and manages their distribution, often via lottery to manage demand. By 2020 Murakami's flower motif and character menagerie were global shorthand for his brand-blurring practice. Animal subjects such as pandas recur across his output, extending the flowers into affectionate, fable-like tableaux aimed at a wide collecting audience.
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: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. 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
Who published this Murakami print?
It was published by Tonari no Zingaro, Takashi Murakami's own gallery based in Nakano Broadway, Tokyo, which issues and distributes many of his editions.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 100. The print is a silkscreen with a sheet size of 500 x 500 mm (50 x 50 cm) and an image size of roughly 406 x 373 mm, dated 2020.
What imagery does the print feature?
A panda cub sleeping atop a ball composed of Murakami's signature smiling flowers, rendered in his flat, hard-edged Superflat style, matching the storybook phrasing of the title.
What should a collector check for authenticity and condition?
Confirm the 2020 copyright line, correct sheet and image dimensions, and the pencil signature and edition numbering typical of Tonari no Zingaro releases. For a square silkscreen, prioritize flat, unfaded, undamaged sheets.
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