Takashi Murakami Melting DOB 2021 Limited Edition Sculpture Multicolor

Introduction

Takashi Murakami’s Melting DOB transforms one of the artist’s most recognizable characters into a compact sculptural object that feels simultaneously playful, grotesque and highly collectible.

Created in 2021, the work reimagines Mr. DOB as a liquefied mass of eyes, teeth, ears and looping graphic forms. Saturated red, blue, white, yellow, green and black move across the curved surface, while the metallic display base gives the piece the presence of a deliberately staged art object rather than a conventional character figure.

This example is presented with its original fitted box and accompanying materials shown in the photographs.

Mr. DOB

Mr. DOB is one of Murakami’s central recurring figures.

The character functions as far more than a mascot. Across paintings, prints, installations and sculpture, DOB has continually changed personality and physical form, moving between cartoon innocence, visual overload and something more unsettling.

Melting DOB is one of the most dramatic sculptural expressions of that instability.

The familiar round ears remain recognizable, but the rest of the character appears to collapse and reorganize itself into a fluid, almost molten form.

Dual Personality

A major feature of Melting DOB is the contrast between its different viewing angles.

One side is dominated by a large serrated mouth, multiple eyes and an aggressive expression.

From another angle, the expression changes completely.

The sculpture therefore does not have a single fixed front. It is designed to be walked around, rotated and viewed as a three-dimensional composition.

This shifting personality is central to the work’s appeal.

Color & Surface

The surface is intensely graphic.

Red and cobalt blue sweep around the body beneath white rings and contours, while yellow, green, pink and black details interrupt the larger color fields.

Murakami’s signature visual vocabulary of exaggerated eyes, cartoon anatomy and highly controlled color separation remains immediately recognizable.

The painted cast-vinyl construction gives the surface a polished finish that catches reflections across the rounded form.

Form & Construction

The sculpture is made from painted cast vinyl and accompanied by a metallic disk display stand.

Approximate dimensions:

Height: 25.3 cm / 10.0 in
Width: 31.5 cm / 12.4 in

The work carries production markings associated with Takashi Murakami and Kaikai Kiki.

Contemporary release documentation identifies the piece as a limited edition of 300 examples and records the medium as painted cast vinyl with metallic disk stand. 

Limited Edition

Edition of 300

The original 2021 release was distributed through Perrotin Hong Kong at an issue price of HKD 16,800. Release documentation also records the work as made in Japan and carrying Takashi Murakami / Kaikai Kiki production markings. 

The relatively small edition adds considerably to its appeal within Murakami’s sculptural production.

Takashi Murakami

Takashi Murakami is one of the defining figures of contemporary Japanese art.

His work deliberately crosses boundaries between fine art, commercial design, anime, manga, fashion and collectible culture.

Characters such as Mr. DOB allow Murakami to move between these worlds while maintaining a highly recognizable visual language.

Melting DOB captures that approach beautifully.

At first glance it appears colorful and humorous.

Look longer and the teeth, fractured anatomy and multiple eyes introduce something considerably stranger.

That tension between attraction and unease is one of the work’s strongest qualities.

Superflat Context

Murakami’s broader Superflat practice often collapses distinctions between museum art, advertising, character design and mass culture.

Melting DOB embodies that philosophy in physical form.

The sculpture looks part art object, part character figure, part visual hallucination.

Its highly finished surface and toy-like construction make it approachable, while the limited edition and sculptural complexity place it firmly within the artist’s collectible art output.

Display Presence

Despite its modest dimensions, Melting DOB has strong visual presence.

The broad horizontal silhouette and saturated palette make it particularly effective in:

contemporary art displays
design libraries
collector cabinets
fashion-oriented interiors
studio spaces
modern offices
Japanese pop-art collections

Because the composition changes substantially from one angle to another, it benefits from open display space rather than being pushed tightly against a wall.

Condition

The sculpture is presented in near-unused condition, with the source describing the work itself as 10/10.

The sculpture appears exceptionally clean in the supplied photographs.

The outer presentation box shows some damage, which should be considered separately from the condition of the artwork itself.

Please review the photographs carefully for the exact condition of the packaging.

Included Items

Original fitted presentation box

Metallic display stand

Associated printed materials shown in the photographs

Protective interior packaging

Only items visible in the photographs are included.

Specifications

Collectibility

Melting DOB sits in a particularly appealing part of the Murakami market because it combines recognizable iconography with genuine three-dimensional presence.

Auction references consistently identify the work as a 2021 painted or moulded vinyl sculpture from an edition of 300. 

Unlike a print, the composition changes substantially as the viewer moves around it.

That dimensional quality, combined with the limited edition and original packaging, makes it especially interesting for collectors building a Murakami, Superflat or Japanese contemporary-art collection.

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Concierge Support & Collector Guidance

Japonista Concierge™ provides tailored assistance for collectors navigating luxury-art collaborations:

• Collaboration-era differentiation and model identification
• Print variation analysis and rarity positioning
• Preservation and storage guidance for coated canvas and leather goods
• Wearability versus archival conservation considerations
• Strategic acquisition planning for long-term collectible value

For select rare or high-value works, private reservation or structured acquisition arrangements may be available on a case-by-case basis.

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Before Proceeding

We encourage collectors to review our shop policies and house guidelines available through the links in our website footer. These outline shipping protocols, condition standards, and handling considerations specific to luxury goods and collectible fashion.

Understanding these guidelines ensures informed acquisition and proper long-term care.

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A Closing Note

The Louis Vuitton × Takashi Murakami collaboration stands as a landmark moment—where heritage luxury met contemporary art, and a monogram became a canvas.

These pieces are not simply fashion items; they are records of a cultural shift—objects that captured a time when boundaries between disciplines dissolved into something entirely new.

At Japonista, we steward these works with clarity and intention, ensuring they continue their journey with collectors who recognize both their craftsmanship and their cultural significance.

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Concierge Support & Collector Guidance

Japonista Concierge™ provides personalized assistance for collectors seeking deeper insight into edition hierarchies, release cycles, and long-term preservation strategies for contemporary works.

Whether your interest is exhibition display, investment alignment, or art-historical study, we guide each acquisition with clarity and market literacy.

For select high-value works, private reservation or structured arrangements may be available on a case-by-case basis.

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Before Proceeding

We kindly encourage collectors to review our shop policies and documentation guidelines, which outline condition transparency, edition verification standards, and shipping precautions specific to contemporary art works.

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A Closing Note

Thank you for exploring Japonista’s curated Takashi Murakami & Kaikai Kiki archive. These works exist at the intersection of art theory, commercial production, and global cultural dialogue—and we are honored to steward them with institutional seriousness.

If you have questions or wish to explore related items, please feel free to contact Japonista Concierge™ at any time.