Wynn Resorts Acquires Arrows and Flower Neon Sign Sculpture By Takashi Murakami and Virgil Abloh

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wynn Resorts announces the acquisition of Arrows and Flower Neon Sign, a contemporary multi-media sculpture from the visionary minds of Takashi Murakami and Virgil Abloh. At nine feet tall, the imposing kinetic neon masterwork blends the signature arrows from Abloh's fashion label, Off-White, with Murakami's iconic rainbow flower.

"Arrows and Flower Neon Sign celebrates optimism in an extraordinary way," said Roger Thomas, Executive Vice President of Design for Wynn Resorts. "Abloh's ever-outward arrows point in directions of endless possibilities, while Murakami's bright and happy flower signifies the abundance and beauty ahead. For me, the combination of these two artists in this single work creates a celebration of joy. We are delighted to include this exuberant piece in the Wynn Resorts collection as a significant example of 21st century art."

Fashioned from neon, aluminum and stainless steel, the sculpture was originally included in Murakami and Abloh's momentous collaborative exhibition entitled "AMERICA TOO" at Gagosian's Los Angeles space. Less than two weeks after the exhibition's close the sculpture was installed at Wynn Las Vegas, and is now on display in Wynn Plaza as part of the resort's continued appreciation and commitment to public art.   

"Virgil Abloh and I created this work inspired by the very neon signs in Las Vegas, so it is as if the work is going to its intended home. I hope our work will help enrich the artistic experience available in the incredible, singular city," said Murakami.

"It's an honor to have a major piece from the most recent collaborative show with Takashi Murakami at Gagosian, "AMERICA TOO," placed at Wynn, where I have spent much time over the last three years with a residence. It's my belief that art, such as this work, can enrich the Las Vegas experience," said Abloh.

A lightning rod of cultural dichotomies, Takashi Murakami believes the artist to be one who perceives and limns the borders between worlds. Combining refined classical painting techniques with a supercharged mix of Pop, animé, and otaku imagery in his distinctive "Superflat" style, Murakami moves freely within an ever-expanding field of aesthetic issues and cultural inspirations. Parallel to the dystopian themes which pervade his work, he recollects and revitalizes traditional narratives of transcendence and enlightenment. Mining religious and secular subjects favored by the so-called Japanese "eccentrics"—non-conformist artists of the Early Modern era widely regarded as counterparts of the Western Romantic tradition—Murakami situates himself within their legacy of bold and lively individualism in a manner that is entirely his own and of his time.

Virgil Abloh was born in 1980 in Rockford, Illinois. After earning a degree in civil engineering, he completed a master's degree in architecture. In 2013, he founded the Milan-based clothing line Off-White, for which he was awarded the British Fashion Council's Urban Luxe award in 2017. In March, Louis Vuitton named Abloh its new artistic director of menswear. He showed his first collection for Louis Vuitton during Paris Men's Fashion Week in June 2018. In 2019, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, will hold a retrospective of his work, curated by Michael Darling.

About Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Resorts is the recipient of more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world and was once again named the best resort in Nevada on Condé Nast Traveler's 2018 "Gold List," a title received for the tenth time. Wynn and Encore Las Vegas consist of two luxury hotel towers with a total of 4,750 spacious hotel rooms, suites and villas. The resort features approximately 192,000 square feet of casino space, 21 signature dining experiences, 11 bars, two award-winning spas, approximately 290,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, approximately 160,000 square feet of retail space as well as two theaters, two nightclubs, a beach club and recreation and leisure facilities. Wynn Las Vegas recently unveiled Wynn Plaza, a Strip-front expansion that offers a collection of world-renowned luxury, contemporary, and lifestyle brands. For more information on Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, visit press.wynnlasvegas.com, or follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Wynn Las Vegas