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Takashi Murakami Says His Art is Overpriced

As reported previously, an exhibition of sculptures and paintings by Takashi Murakami, creator of the "Superflat" art style, is being displayed at London's Gagosian galley near Kings Cross St Pancras station (map).

A new article on the Bloomberg website claims Murakami is "baffled" by how much his work costs today and says it is overpriced.

According to the article, "(Murakami) discussed prices with dealer Larry Gagosian before the (London) show, and hearing the figures, told Gagosian that they were 'a little bit expensive.' According to Murakami, Gagosian replied, 'No, this is big, this is big!'"

The Bloomberg article says Murakami describes the rising value of his work as "very scary," and too expensive. However, the artist also says he has a small salary and incurs high expenses through travel, communications and staff.

Murakami's 1998 sculpture, "My Lonesome Cowboy" (depicting an aroused male) sold for $15.2 million in Sotheby's in New York in May 2008. That September saw the financial crisis caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. However, according to an art adviser, Murakami's art is now worth "substantially" more than it was before the crisis.

The Gagosian exhibition is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays (1000 to 1800), until August 5.