Gauntlet Gallery — Takashi Murakami Print Index
The Future Will Definitely Smile! Surely!
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"The Future Will Definitely Smile! Surely!" is a 2020 archival pigment print by Takashi Murakami, issued in a first edition of 100 and released through his own Tonari No Zingaro imprint. Printed on Canson Velin with deckled edges, the 75 x 75 cm sheet carries a 65 x 65 cm image. The optimistic title channels Murakami's signature blend of buoyant character work and philosophical undertone.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 100. 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
The print exemplifies Murakami's Superflat program: dense, saturated character imagery delivered with commercial-grade finish yet rooted in fine-art intent. Its emphatically hopeful title, arriving in 2020, reads as a deliberate gesture toward reassurance during an uncertain moment. As a self-published Tonari No Zingaro release in a tight edition of 100, it sits squarely within the artist-controlled ecosystem collectors prize.
Collector Perspective
For collectors, the appeal is threefold: a manageable 100-piece edition, the premium archival substrate (Canson Velin with deckled edges), and direct issuance through Murakami's own Tonari No Zingaro. The square 75 x 75 cm format frames well and suits contemporary interiors. As always with Murakami prints, verify the pencil signature, numbering, and any accompanying documentation before acquiring; condition of the deckled edges matters.
Historical Context
Takashi Murakami rose to global prominence via his Superflat theory, which collapses fine art, anime, and consumer culture into a single flattened visual plane. Tonari No Zingaro, his Nakano Broadway gallery and print imprint, has long been the primary channel for his editioned works. Released in 2020, this print continues a decades-long practice of translating painted motifs into accessible, high-quality giclee editions.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2020
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Giclee Print; catalog dimensions 75 x 75 cm; Archival Pigment Print on Canson Velin with Deckled Edges.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 100.
- 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: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2020 and attributes the edition to Tonari No Zingaro.
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 Tonari No Zingaro. 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
How large is the edition?
This is a first edition limited to 100 prints, as noted in the release information (ED: 100).
What is the medium and paper?
It is an archival pigment print (giclee) on Canson Velin with deckled edges. The sheet measures 750 x 750 mm and the image area is 650 x 650 mm.
Who published this print?
It was released through Tonari No Zingaro, Takashi Murakami's own gallery and print imprint based in Nakano Broadway, Tokyo.
When was it produced?
The print dates to 2020 and is titled 'The Future Will Definitely Smile! Surely!'
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