The Cat Art Show in Los Angeles Returns with an Unexpected Celebrity Participant

Sometimes sequels are better than the original.

Britt Ehringer, <em>Frida Kat Lo Brow.</em><br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Britt Ehringer, #fridakatlobrow.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Cat lovers might want to book a flight to Los Angeles this weekend for a cat art show that’s making its way to downtown LA’s Think Tank Gallery.

This edition, titled “Cat Art Show LA 2: The Sequel,” follows in the footsteps of CatConLa’s debut in 2014, which the organizers state attracted visitors by the thousands.

“Cats have been part of our lives for thousands of years,” curator Susan Michals said in a statement. “The Egyptians frequently aligned them with gods, and artists like Picasso created masterpieces centered on cats.”

Mark Ryden, <em>Amanda.</em><br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Mark Ryden, Amanda.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

This year’s headliners include Mark Ryden and Marion Peck, artists who share an aesthetic affinity for painting cats and human figures with distorted proportions. Ryden’s contribution, for example, is a Blythe doll-esque depiction of actress Amanda Seyfried grasping an excited cat.

Other notable artists from the 70-strong lineup include commercial cat photographer Walter Chandoha, popular tattoo artist Kat Von D, and celebrity photographer Mick Rock.

Norman Reedus, <em>Cooks in the Kitchen.</em><br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Norman Reedus, Cooks in the Kitchen.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

But perhaps the most surprising participant to join this year’s roster is actor Norman Reedus, who plays fan-favorite character Daryl Dixon from the hit TV show the “The Walking Dead.” It turns out that when Reedus isn’t hacking away at zombies, he’s busy creating paintings and photos—sometimes involving feline friends.

Cat-themed art is hardly new to the scene, especially given the niche’s popular demand. A cat painting sold at Sotheby’s in November 2015 for $826,000. This May, The Worcester Art Museum will be hosting a summer-long show of their own dedicated to cats titled “Meow: A Cat-Inspired Exhibition.”

See below for a selected preview of the upcoming show.

Travis Lampe, <em>Kitty Bread Time</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Travis Lampe, Kitty Bread Time.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Brandon Boyd, <em>Yawning Toothy Silhouette</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Brandon Boyd, Yawning Toothy Silhouette.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Paul Koudounaris, <em>Warhol Cat</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Paul Koudounaris, Warhol Cat.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Marc Dennis, <em>Night Out</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Marc Dennis, Night Out.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Don Pendleton, <em>Cartoonist</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Don Pendleton, Cartoonist.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Katsunori Miyagi, <em>Gravity Cat</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Katsunori Miyagi, Gravity Cat.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Ingrid Allen, <em>Copy Cat</em>.<br>Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

Ingrid Allen, Copy Cat.
Photo: Courtesy of Cat Art Show LA.

“Cat Art Show LA 2: The Sequel” opens at downtown LA’s Think Tank gallery on Thursday, March 24 from 8 p.m to 10 p.m. The exhibition runs through Sunday, March 27 from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m.


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