Tuesday marks the 2011 summer solstice, and Google has marked the day with a new Google Doodle.

The colorful modified logo was created by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, a prolific illustrator and fine artist whose work has strong roots in Japanese consumer culture, anime and design.

Murakami also created a wintery version for Google Web Search users south of the equator.

In the past, Murakami has also worked with high-end fashion brand Louis Vuitton on fresh looks for the designer's iconic logo bags, some of which you can see below. Murakami is also credited with founding the postmodern art movement Superflat, a consumerist expression of Japanese culture for Western audiences.

Check out this gallery of the Murakami Google Doodles as well as a few other pieces by this artist.