If dog are man’s best friend, then cats are the best friends of artists, apparently.
Just like Renoir and Monet, Warhol and Dalí, 20 renowned artists have fallen under the feline spell – and they will be showing their work at the Swell Cat Art Show on June 29, right in the heart of this year’s CatFest at Beckenham Palace.
The 20 artists have donated their cat art to the cause so that 100% of the sales go to helping Shatervan Idesh – an organisation that recently launched an international spay-neuter initiative in economically-challenged countries.
Their ‘Trash Cats and Dumpster Dog Programme’ is currently based out of Albania and the funds raised from the art show will complete a much needed spay-neuter surgery clinic to manage the street cat population.
‘When I moved overseas, I was prepared for homeless animals, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the lack of access and facilities to handle the problem,’ says Shawn Simons, the founder of Shatervan Idesh and a long-time animal rescuer from the US.
Shawn was the opening speaker at last year’s CatFest and, when asked to return, she pitched the idea of producing a big art show in the midst of the feline fun of the festival.
She says: ‘I had produced a number of successful cat art shows back in Los Angeles, so I knew I had the contacts to pull it off. However, this show has opened the door to artists from all over the globe.’
Artists from all over the US, Portugal, Brazil, New Zealand, Israel, Ireland, Argentina, Japan, and the UK are taking part in the show, with over 30 pieces on display for purchase.
See Rose Freymuth-Frazier’s ‘Divine Intervention’ – an insanely-detailed painting of her Egyptian cat Bun Ra smashing a tiny Donald Trump doll, or be charmed by the incredibly delicate brushwork of Midori Furuhashi’s gentle portrait of geisha cats.
America’s foremost satirical street-poster artist, whose work has been seen from MOCHA to The Met, Robbie Conal will also be on show. Between creating his highly-touted political paintings, it seems Robbie likes to paint cats. I mean… who doesn’t?
Conal will be premiering his new piece ‘Louise’ – the large green-eyed feline.
Karen Fiorito is another political activist who has seen her profile rise with the installation of the anti-Trump billboard she was hired to design in Phoenix, Arizona. This time Karen has opted to create something a lil’ more zen with her work ‘Golden Buddha Cat’.
The piece was inspired by her inspired by her larger-than-life orange tabby Buddy.
‘A couple of years ago he was attacked by a dog and barely survived, and this is my prayer for him for a long life,’ says Karen.
Yael Hoenig, on the other hand, is pretty well-known for her constant cat theme. Her innovative modern works have branded her one of Israel’s most talked about artists.
Work from Brazilian street artist Thiago Goms, American artist Rob Reeger (the guy behind Emily the Strange) Bob Motown can also be seen (and bought).
So whether you’re a long or short-haired kinda human, tabby or black cat, you can be sure there will be something to leave you feeling like the cat that got the cream.
Prices start from £100. This month’s CatFest are sold out but you can also purchase the art on the Shatervan Idesh site here, or follow them on Instagram here.
