In 2001, Marianne Boesky Gallery held an exhibition showcasing the work of Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami, who was making waves in the art world at the time. Mushroom, a collection of paintings, explored Murakami’s concept of Superflat, a trend in Japanese contemporary art that was emerging from its nascent stages. The present lot is a sketch by the artist of the floor plan of the exhibition, exemplifying his direct involvement with planning the show.
Please find images of the exhibition here.
Detail of the present lot 
Detail of the present lot Provenance
Private Collection, New York (gifted by the artist)
Artist Biography
Takashi Murakami
Japanese • 1962
Takashi Murakami is best known for his contemporary combination of fine art and pop culture. He uses recognizable iconography like Mickey Mouse and cartoonish flowers and infuses it with Japanese culture. The result is a boldly colorful body of work that takes the shape of paintings, sculptures and animations.
In the 1990s, Murakami founded the Superflat movement in an attempt to expose the "shallow emptiness of Japanese consumer culture." The artist plays on the familiar aesthetic of mangas, Japanese-language comics, to render works that appear democratic and accessible, all the while denouncing the universality and unspecificity of consumer goods. True to form, Murakami has done collaborations with numerous brands and celebrities including Kanye West, Louis Vuitton, Pharrell Williams and Google.
24
Untitled (Sketch of Exhibition at Marianne Boesky, 2001)
signed, inscribed and dated "2001 Mar 16 MARIANNE BOESKY GALLERYS show with oval Mushroom Insteration View TAKASHI" lower center
pencil and paper collage on joined sheets of paper
28 x 62 in. (71.1 x 157.5 cm)
Executed in 2001.
Estimate
$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $24,130
Katerina Blackwood
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20th Century & Contemporary Art
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20th Century & Contemporary Art: Online Auction, New York
11 - 20 March 2024
