Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Baby Pandas Are Flocking! Yay! (First Edition)
Summary
"Baby Pandas Are Flocking! Yay!" (2022) is a first-edition silkscreen by Takashi Murakami, published by his own Tonari No Zingaro in an edition of 100. Measuring roughly 51 x 51 cm on a square sheet, the print channels Murakami's Superflat vocabulary of cheerful, mass-cute characters into a tightly composed panda motif rendered in flat, poster-bright screen-printed color.
Why It Matters
The edition of 100 makes this one of Murakami's more compact print runs, and the Tonari No Zingaro imprint ties it directly to the artist's own Nakano Broadway gallery rather than a third-party publisher. Square-format character prints like this sit at the center of Murakami's most collectible output, bridging his fine-art practice and the accessible, character-driven work that built his global following.
Collector Perspective
For collectors, the appeal is a clear entry point into Murakami's character canon: a bright, instantly legible image at an approachable domestic scale. First-edition status and the modest 100-print run are the details to verify, as they distinguish this from later or unnumbered issues. As always with Murakami editions, condition, an intact sheet, and correct numbering carry real weight.
Historical Context
By 2022 Murakami had spent two decades formalizing his Superflat theory, flattening the distance between high art and Japanese pop culture. Tonari No Zingaro, his gallery-shop inside Tokyo's Nakano Broadway, has served as a direct channel for limited prints since the 2010s. This panda motif extends the artist's long lineage of recurring, endlessly reinvented characters designed to feel joyful, ownable, and immediately recognizable.
FAQ
Who published this print and in what edition size?
It was published by Takashi Murakami's own Tonari No Zingaro imprint in a first edition of 100. Silkscreen prints from Tonari No Zingaro are issued directly through the artist's Nakano Broadway gallery in Tokyo.
What are the dimensions and medium?
It is a silkscreen (screen print) with a sheet size of roughly 51.25 x 51.25 cm and an image size of approximately 41.25 x 41.25 cm, per the source specifications.
What does "First Edition" mean here?
The title designation "First Edition" indicates this is the initial issue of the image rather than a later reprint or reissue. Collectors should confirm numbering and any publisher marks when authenticating.
How does this fit within Murakami's body of work?
It belongs to his Superflat character prints — bright, flat, cheerful motifs that collapse the line between fine art and pop culture. The panda joins a long roster of recurring characters Murakami has developed across his career.
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.