The 26th Annual Webby Awards is thrilled to honor Takashi Murakami with a 2022 Webby Special Achievement Award for his lifelong career of creating experimental art, and for bringing his talents to the new frontier of NFt art, notably through his CloneX NFT drop with RTFKT Studios and his upcoming MURAKAMI.FLOWERS.

The role of an artist is to change existing ideas held by the status quo and create something new. As a visionary, genius, and one of the world’s most influential contemporary artists, Takashi Murakami has demonstrated this throughout his 31-year career. From blurring the lines between contemporary art, fashion and consumerism, to directing and animating music videos for some of the music industry’s most acclaimed song, including Billie Eilish’s “you should see me in a crown” and Kanye West’s “Good Morning”, Murakami is no stranger to creating art that inspires the masses, across any medium.

What’s clear is that Murakami believes in the power of the internet to democratize art, and he’s now demonstrating that belief through NFT art and the metaverse. By creating 20,000 next-gen Avatars for CloneX drop with RTFKT Studios and his upcoming Murakami.Flowers project, which will feature a tomagachi-like mobile game, Murakami is creating unique experiences for both the Internet and the metaverse.

For his ingenious use of digital technologies and the Internet to push the boundaries of the art world and democratize contemporary art using blockchain technology—and for inspiring multiple generations of creatives it is our great privilege to honor Takashi Murakami with a 2022 Webby Special Achievement Award.