Japanese Artists on the Rise: Gutai, Mono-Ha, and Contemporary Stars

The market for Japanese Gutai artists is evolving, exemplified by Kazuo Shiraga's remarkable €8.7 million auction record set in Paris for a painting from 1959. Established by Jiro Yoshihara in the mid-1950s, the Gutai group was active until the early 1970s. Artists linked to Mono-Ha, such as Lee Ufan (b. 1936), who achieved a record of $2.2 million in 2012, are also drawing interest. Major auction houses like Sotheby's, Christie's, and Bonhams conduct sales biannually in London and New York. Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929) has emerged as a national icon, with exhibitions in 2023, including one at the Matsumoto City Museum. Takashi Murakami (b. 1962) continues to be the highest-selling Japanese artist, holding a record of $15.1 million. The "Starting Points: Japanese Art of the '80s" exhibition is on display at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa until October 21.