Takashi Murakami's KaiKai And Kiki In The Gagosian Retail Store New York Window

Takashi Murakami's "KaiKai and Kiki" are displayed in the window of the new store of the international art powerhouse, Gagosian Gallery. The Gagosian Store is located at 988 Madison Avenue. The retail space purveys prints, one-off pieces, publications, and also doubles as an exhibition space. Following the Andy Warhol credo, the store offers "pop art that is popular, transient, expendable, low cost, mass produced, young, witty, sexy, gimmicky, glamorous and big business."

The Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami created animation characters Kaikai, a childlike character and Kiki, a companion with three eyes and sharp fangs. They are examples of Mr. Murakami's signature superflat style.

Giant Balloons At The 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Kung Fu Panda (Dreamworks Animation)

"Super Cute" Hello Kitty (Sanrio)

Takashi Murakami's "Kaikai" and "Kiki"

Takashi Murakami's "Kiki"

Ronald McDonald (McDonald's)

Sailor Mickey (Disney Cruise Line)

Kermit The Frog (Disney)

Shrek (Dreamworks Animation)

Spiderman (Marvel Entertainment)

Spongebob Squarepants (Nickelodeon)

Pikachu with Pokeball (The Pokemon Company International)

While much of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's roster of giant balloons is dedicated to readily identifiable figures, the parade organizers try to make room for what they call "high art." This year's giant balloon lineup for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade included new characters like Kaikai and Kiki (Kaikaikiki Co. Ltd.). These characters were designed by Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami who in the global art scene is known for his inflatable sculptures of psychedelic anime-style cartoon characters as well as his Louis Vuitton handbag and Casio watch designs. The parade is a "snapshot of the American culture," according to the executive producer of the parade, Robin Hall. Aside from giant balloons, the parade featured marching bands, floats, cheering clowns and a host of celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Kanye West and Gladys Knight. The images of the balloons were made earlier this morning at the intersection of 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

Takashi Murakami Art Window Display for Louis Vuitton at Bloomingdale's

The Takashi Murakami art theme is featured in the current window display of Louis Vuitton at Bloomingdale's. The display consists of monogram-shaped brightly colored lights, similar to the holiday window display at the Fifth Avenue Flagship store last year. Bloomingdale's is located at Lexington Avenue and 59th Street.

LOUIS VUITTON FIFTH AVENUE FLAGSHIP STORE Christmas Window Display 2008

This holiday season, the LOUIS VUITTON FLAGSHIP STORE in New York beautifully features TAKASHI MURAKAMI’s artwork of multicolor monogram print on the walls of the building. The walls are unique in that they have graduated transitions, from opaque to transparent. The Murakami art theme is repeated in the Christmas window display consistinng of monogram-shaped and handbag-shaped brightly colored lights. The flagship store is located at a corner of a famous intersection in Manhattan, 57th Street and 5th Avenue. I made these images last November 23rd.

TAKASHI MURAKAMI'S OVAL BUDDHA

This is TAKASHI MURAKAMI's "OVAL BUDDHA," a huge piece of sculpture on view at the indoor public sculpture garden at 590 Madison Avenue facing 56th Street. It weighs 6,613 lbs. and more than 18 1/2 feet tall, and was originally intended for exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Because it couldn't fit into the Brooklyn Museum, the sculpture was then taken to its present location in midtown Manhattan. The quirky steel and aluminum sculpture is covered with platinum leaf and "reflects the artist's evolving body, mind, and spirit and his continuing exploration of his cultural, national, religious, and artistic reality." Murakami is is a prolific contemporary Japanese artist who works in both fine arts media, such as painting, as well as digital and commercial media. He attempts to blur the boundaries between high and low art, and makes his art available to different kinds of items including limited edition Louis Vuitton handbags.

The sculpture plaza is free and open to the public, and has plenty of tables for a brown-bag lunch. "Oval Buddha" will remain in Midtown until September 7. The Brooklyn exhibition will close July 13. On June 1, Louis Vuitton will launch Murakami's new Monogramouflage line at the museum.