Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
My Next Smiley
Summary
"My Next Smiley" is a 2020 silkscreen by Takashi Murakami, issued in an edition of 100 through his Kaikai Kiki gallery Tonari no Zingaro. Measuring 50 x 50 cm on the sheet, with a 44 x 44 cm image, the print centers a beaming character titled "Tonari no Smiley-Kun No.1." It distills Murakami's Superflat vocabulary — flat color, graphic outline, relentless cheer — into a single, self-contained emblem of manufactured happiness.
Why It Matters
The smiley is one of the most loaded symbols in contemporary art, and Murakami reclaims it here as a Kaikai Kiki character rather than a borrowed icon. Tied to his own gallery imprint ("Smiley-Kun No.1"), the print signals a house-built mascot with room to expand. For collectors, it condenses Murakami's flatness-and-affect thesis into an accessible square format at a tight edition of 100.
Collector Perspective
At 50 x 50 cm and edition of 100, this sits in the approachable tier of Murakami's silkscreen output — small enough to hang anywhere, scarce enough to matter. The square format and single-character composition make it visually clean and easy to frame. As always with Murakami, condition is everything: sharp corners, unfaded flat color, and an intact sheet drive desirability. The "No.1" designation may appeal to completists tracking Smiley-Kun variants.
Historical Context
By 2020 Murakami had spent two decades building the Superflat framework, folding anime, otaku culture, and traditional Nihonga into a globally legible pop language. Tonari no Zingaro, his gallery in Nakano Broadway, Tokyo, functions as a laboratory for character-driven editions. "Smiley-Kun" extends a lineage that runs through his flowers, DOB, and jellyfish eyes — recurring mascots that treat the character itself as the artwork's true medium.
FAQ
How large is the edition?
The print was released in an edition of 100. The source description lists no artist proofs or additional variants, so 100 is the stated run for this title.
What are the dimensions?
The sheet measures 50 x 50 cm (500 x 500 mm) with an image area of 44 x 44 cm (440 x 440 mm), leaving a modest border on each side.
Who published it?
It was issued through Tonari no Zingaro, Takashi Murakami's Kaikai Kiki gallery in Tokyo, which regularly produces his character-based silkscreen editions.
What does 'Smiley-Kun No.1' mean?
The title 'Tonari no Smiley-Kun No.1' names the smiling character and marks it as the first in a potential series, a common practice in Murakami's numbered character editions.
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.