Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
DOB 2020 (Blue)
Summary
Released in 2020 through Murakami's own Kaikai Kiki gallery imprint Tonari No Zingaro, this offset lithograph presents DOB — the artist's signature Mickey-adjacent avatar — rendered in a cool blue palette. Printed in a compact edition of 100 on a 470 x 470mm sheet with a 370 x 370mm image, it distills Murakami's Superflat lexicon into a single, poster-scaled, collectible impression.
Why It Matters
DOB is Murakami's most enduring invention — a character whose name derives from a nonsense phrase, engineered as a self-conscious parody of corporate mascot culture. As DOB's recognizable face, this 2020 blue variant offers a legible, entry-scaled way to own the motif that anchors the artist's entire Superflat project, backed by a tightly held run of 100.
Collector Perspective
The appeal here is clarity and access: a square 47cm sheet, a single-character composition, and an edition of just 100 make this a focused rather than sprawling print. Collectors should treat the blue colorway as a distinguishing variable within the DOB series, note the modest image-within-sheet margins, and preserve the full sheet, as trimming would compromise the stated 470 x 470mm dimensions.
Historical Context
Tonari No Zingaro, Murakami's gallery and merchandise outlet, has long served as the release channel for his editioned prints and character goods. By 2020, DOB had spent roughly three decades evolving across paintings, sculptures, and lithographs. This impression sits within that mature phase, where Murakami repeatedly recolored and reissued his core icons for a global collector base attentive to variant and edition detail.
FAQ
Who published DOB 2020 (Blue) and how large is the edition?
It was published by Tonari No Zingaro, Murakami's own Kaikai Kiki gallery outlet, in an edition of 100.
What are the exact dimensions?
The sheet measures 470 x 470mm (47 x 47cm) with a printed image area of 370 x 370mm, per the release specifications.
What printing process was used?
It is an offset lithograph, the medium Murakami commonly uses for his editioned character prints.
What is DOB?
DOB is Murakami's signature cartoon character — a round-eared avatar whose name comes from a nonsense phrase — and one of the central motifs of his Superflat aesthetic.
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.