Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Mr. Dob (B)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Released in 2017 through the streetwear-and-collectibles retailer BAIT, this vinyl figure renders Mr. DOB, Takashi Murakami's foundational alter-ego character, in three dimensions. The "(B)" designation marks a specific colorway or variant within a paired release. As a licensed vinyl toy rather than a print, it translates Murakami's Superflat vocabulary into a tactile, sculptural object built for display.
Collector notes: Legacy catalog label: First Edition; total quantity was not documented in the saved record. 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
Mr. DOB is Murakami's earliest signature character and a keystone of his Superflat theory, born in the early 1990s as a critique of consumer culture and Japanese cartoon iconography. Any object carrying DOB connects directly to the artist's conceptual origins. A BAIT-published vinyl edition extends that lineage into the accessible collectible-toy market, where Murakami has long blurred the line between fine art and product.
Collector Perspective
Vinyl figures like this appeal to collectors who want a Murakami object at an approachable entry point relative to paintings or large sculptures. Condition and completeness drive desirability: original box, undamaged surfaces, and factory freshness matter for a display piece. As part of a lettered pair, the "(B)" variant is best understood alongside its companion, and collectors often seek matched sets.
Historical Context
By 2017, Murakami had spent over two decades embedding Mr. DOB across paintings, prints, plush, and figures, using the character as a mutable mascot of his practice. BAIT, known for artist and franchise collaborations in the collectibles space, was among the retailers licensed to bring his characters into vinyl form, situating this release within Murakami's ongoing dialogue between gallery art and mass-market pop objects.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Album / packaging artwork
- Release date
- 2017
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Vinyl Toy.
- Edition details
- Legacy catalog label: First Edition; total quantity was not documented in the saved record.
- 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 2017, Murakami had spent over two decades embedding Mr. 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 2017 and attributes the edition to BAIT.
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 BAIT. 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 is Mr. DOB?
Mr. DOB is Takashi Murakami's signature original character, first developed in the early 1990s. A rounded, mouse-like figure whose name derives from Japanese slang, DOB functions as the artist's self-referential alter-ego and a central emblem of his Superflat philosophy.
What does the "(B)" in the title mean?
The "(B)" indicates a specific variant or colorway within a lettered release, typically paired with an "(A)" counterpart. Collectors often view the two as companion pieces and may seek to acquire the matched set.
Who published this figure?
This vinyl toy was released in 2017 by BAIT, a retailer known for collaborations with artists and entertainment franchises in the collectibles and streetwear space, working under license with Murakami's characters.
Is this a print or a sculpture?
Neither in the traditional fine-art sense. It is a licensed vinyl toy, a three-dimensional collectible object that translates Murakami's flat character design into a sculptural, display-oriented form.
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