Shōtoku Taishi at Sixteen

2025

Takashi Murakami

Culture

Japan

Medium

acrylic on canvas mounted on aluminum frame

Measurements

121.8 x 57.5 cm (47 15/16 x 22 5/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. 2025.156

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Takashi Murakami also recreated a sculpture of Shōtoku at age two in the CMA’s collection.

Description

At the Cleveland Museum of Art, the exhibition Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow (2025) began with the artist’s recreation of the Yumedono, or Dream Hall, from the Hōryūji Temple complex near Nara, Japan. The Yumedono is thought to reside in the location of the home of Prince Shōtoku Taishi (c. 573–c. 622), who played a significant role in introducing Buddhism to Japan. When Murakami discovered a painting of Shōtoku at age 16 in the CMA’s Japanese collection, the artist decided to recreate it in the form of this homage work.