By Michael Darling with Madeleine Grynsztejn, Michael Dylan Foster, Chelsea Foxwell and Reuben Keehan

Takashi Murakami is one of contemporary art's most widely recognized exponents, receives a long-awaited critical consideration in this important volume. Where other books address the commercial aspects of Murakami's work, this is the first serious survey of his work as a painter. Through essays and illustrations-- many previously unpublished--it explores the artist's relationship to the tradition of Japanese painting and his facility in straddling high and low, ancient and modern, Eastern and Western, commercial and high art. This richly illustrated volume also includes a detailed biography and exhibition history. Takashi Murakami is a true essential for collectors and fans alike.