"TADANORI YOKOO - Okabe Silkscreen Studio", Japanese Contemporary Art Poster, Original Limited Edition Silk Screen 1997, Ultra Rare, Size (c.73 x 103cm)
This poster is ultra rare and is displayed in the world`s most prestigious galleries such as MoMA in New York City. It is very difficult / almost impossible to find in any condition.
Original Silkscreen Print on Paper, B1 Size (103 × 73 cm | 40.6 × 28.7 in)
As held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.
https://www.moma.org/collection/works/6102
This is an original 1997 silkscreen print by Japanese graphic icon Tadanori Yokoo, titled Okabe Silkscreen Studio. Commissioned by the famed Okabe print workshop—Yokoo’s long-time collaborator and master of his silkscreen production—this work is both a self-aware tribute and psychedelic celebration of the art of printmaking itself.
Rendered in lavish metallic inks and high-contrast halftones, the design is divided into two surreal registers. The upper half depicts a stylized treasure ship sailing across a crimson-and-gold sunburst sea, loaded with bales of fortune, symbolic carp, and Yokoo’s own collaborators and artworks aboard—among them pieces referencing Yokoo’s visual lexicon (including his La Chapella Land poster). The ship’s sail boldly bears the kanji for “luck” (福), a gesture of tribute to the prosperity and success of the studio and its artists.
The bottom half grounds the image in ironic contrast: a reclining, plus-sized woman in a bright red swimsuit lounges on a silver beach, drink in hand, beneath the repeated “Okabe Silkscreen Studio” text.
The accompanying caption reads:
“To Mr. Bill Riley, when you see this, please contact me direct.”
—adding an inside-joke layer of mystery and personal charm.
Every detail—down to the dot pattern textures, vivid inks, and satirical photomontage—demonstrates Yokoo’s late-career mastery of pop surrealism. The visual chaos is balanced by sophisticated design: a conscious clash of mass production and fine art, reverent tribute and parody.
True to its subject, this piece is a genuine handcrafted silkscreen—each layer painstakingly pulled by hand. Unlike digital or offset printing, silkscreen captures the unique tactile quality of ink on paper, allowing for rich textures and vibrant metallics. It’s this old-school imperfection that gives Yokoo’s work its enduring cultural voltage: each print a high-art object with punk roots.
This print comes from a highly curated Japanese collection devoted to Yokoo’s silkscreen work. While not part of a public edition, it was printed in limited numbers for internal and promotional use—making this a rare survivor. Its condition is near mint: unbacked, bright, and clean with striking color integrity.
A standout example of Yokoo’s personal relationship with his craft, and a must-have for collectors of Japanese postwar design, contemporary pop art, and Yokoo’s incomparable visual world.
Please refer to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
We have provided additional imagery as the condition is phenomenal!!
It is over 28 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
*Please note the price is fixed for this item. It is not included in any of our periodic sales (e.g. Black Friday)!*
