Contemporary Collector

Japanese painter and sculptor Takashi Murakami is known for his artworks blurring the gap between fine and commercial art. Often compared to the likes of Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, Murakami’s style is a combination of contemporary Japanese and Pop art. The upcoming Contemporary Collector auction, presented by Doyle, features a 2016 sculpture pair titled Mr. DOB (Complexcon) from Murakami. Both cast resin polychrome sculptures represent the artist’s signature sharp-toothed character, inspired by animated icons such as Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse. Deriving their name from dobojite— a Japanese slang expression meaning ‘why’— Mr. DOB paintings and sculptures by Murakami are among his most popular works.

The auction also highlights Untitled (Please! Please! Please!) by contemporary American artist Barkley Hendricks. A pioneer of conceptual art, Hendricks worked in multiple mediums. The featured graphite, crayon, stamp, colored ink, and photo transfer on paper piece reflects Hendricks’ bold and realistic style. Also presented is an acrylic and oil painting by landscape artist Wade Hoefer. This luminous landscape explores the tranquil scenes of northern California. Also offered are sculptures by artists such as Olivier Babin, Harold Ancart, KAWS, and Tim Berg. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Doyle.