Unfamiliar People, 2020–2022, by Takashi Murakami

The piece “Unfamiliar People” is part of Takashi Murakami’s first San Francisco solo show, “Unfamiliar People — Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego,” at the Asian Art Museum.

The Japanese superstar artist and entrepreneur Takashi Murakami has long presumed to do battle with the monstrosities of consumer culture in his pop-art paintings and sculptures.

He has also developed himself and his work into a major brand. He even has a logo: a hybrid sunflower smiley face, which regularly appears in nearly all his artworks.

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