Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
Mr. Dob Figure (Original Edition)
Summary
The Mr. Dob Figure (Original Edition), released in 2016 by BAIT, is a vinyl toy rendering of Takashi Murakami's signature avatar, produced in an edition of 750 and measuring 23.5 x 27.5 cm. Mr. Dob is the shape-shifting, big-eared character Murakami has built his practice around, here translated from canvas into a collectible three-dimensional object that anchors his Superflat vocabulary in tangible form.
Why It Matters
Mr. Dob is Murakami's self-portrait and mascot in one, the recurring cipher through which he interrogates cuteness, consumerism, and Japanese pop identity. A vinyl edition places that concept directly in the collector's hands. The BAIT collaboration also situates the piece within the streetwear-meets-fine-art crossover that defines Murakami's cultural footprint, making it a compact statement of his blurring of high and low.
Collector Perspective
At an edition of 750, this figure sits in accessible-but-defined territory, more available than a limited print run yet finite enough to hold identity as a numbered object. Collectors are drawn to Mr. Dob as the most recognizable entry point into Murakami's world. Condition of the vinyl, retained packaging, and any original tags materially shape desirability, as they do across the collectible-toy market.
Historical Context
By 2016 Murakami had spent two decades cementing Mr. Dob as the nucleus of his Superflat theory, first sketched in the 1990s as a critique of otaku culture and market-driven imagery. The BAIT release arrived amid a broader wave of artist-designed vinyl figures, a format popularized through Japanese and streetwear channels that let Murakami's painterly icons reach a wider, object-hungry audience.
FAQ
Who produced this Mr. Dob figure?
It was released in 2016 by BAIT, the streetwear and collectibles retailer, as a vinyl toy depicting Takashi Murakami's Mr. Dob character.
How large is the edition?
The Original Edition was produced in a run of 750 figures.
What are its dimensions and medium?
It is a vinyl toy measuring 23.5 x 27.5 cm.
Who is Mr. Dob?
Mr. Dob is Takashi Murakami's signature character and quasi-self-portrait, a shape-shifting, big-eared figure central to his Superflat art movement since the 1990s.
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.