Newish Murakami Lands at The Broad, and Yes, We’re Obsessed
Heads up, art lovers: We’ve just spotted a “newish” Takashi Murakami at The Broad, and it’s giving all the right vibes. Well, new to us at least. Nestled among recent acquisitions at The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, this vibrant little gem snuck up on us during our visit last week. We were there for Mickalene Thomas’s dazzling solo show, but if you’re anything like us, a trip to The Broad isn’t complete without a deep dive into its permanent collection.
And trust us—Murakami’s presence at The Broad is significant. The museum boasts a robust collection of his work, including several of his iconic pieces. The Broad houses an impressive, major collection of Murakami’s art. Revisiting the collection on the upper floor always feels like reconnecting with old favorites. The collection is ever-evolving—some pieces loaned out, others rotated into storage—so it’s always exciting to stumble upon something new. Most of the Murakami artworks were on view in the museum’s prime gallery space, but these are all currently out on load to other museums or touring exhibitions or in storage.
Cue: “Clone X x Takashi Murakami #17495 Astronaut” (2022), a shiny, newish acquisition that had us doing a double-take. This work is part of Murakami’s collaboration with RTFKT, a leading creator in the faddish NFT space, known for their digital fashion and collectible projects. Tucked into a smaller side gallery showcasing fresh additions to The Broad’s catalog, this acrylic-on-canvas piece is a playful nod to Murakami’s anime-inspired style, with those signature rainbow-smiling sunflowers in full effect. But unlike his earlier “superflat” characters, this one’s got a 3D twist, looking more like a collectible vinyl toy than the flat, manga-style figures we’ve come to expect.
The title itself screams over-hyped NFT-era nostalgia—remember that frenzy? The piece is part of the Clone X series, a crossover with RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”), which exploded in 2021, as Murakami ventured into digital art and NFTs during the market’s peak. The collaboration with RTFKT integrates both the digital and physical realms, making the “Astronaut” figure as much a part of the NFT zeitgeist as it is an IRL artwork. And yes, 2021 was the year Beeple made history with his $69 million NFT sale, marking a high point for digital art.
While the NFT hype may have crashed since, Murakami’s “Astronaut” in physical, real-world paint-on-canvas form shows that he continues to experiment with new forms and mediums. The Broad, ever the savvy collector of cultural icons, made a smart move by adding this piece to its growing catalog. And while Julie Mehretu’s monumental work currently dominates the main gallery (as it should), this new Murakami offers a fun, futuristic twist on the museum’s already impressive collection. Definitely add it to your must-see list when you’re next at LA’s shimmering jewel box of contemporary art.
GLOBAL GRAPHICA 