Artists have had a special relationship with the humble house-cat for centuries. In addition to serving as subjects of paintings, prints, sculptures, and other works of art, the meowing muses have also played an important part behind the scenes. In Artists and Their Cats, author Alison Nastasi explores this furry phenomenon, sharing intimate photos of well-known creatives and their cuddly companions.
To prove that “behind many great artists is a great…cat,” Nastasi has compiled a list of 50 artists who owned and loved cats. On top of highlighting the feline-friendly artists, Nastasi also shines a spotlight on the cats themselves. From Babou, Salvador Dali‘s beloved “baby” ocelot, to the menagerie of cats kept in the Ono-Lennon household, these four-legged friends are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
As an artist and cat owner herself, Nastasi is no stranger to the creative inspiration that cats can provide. In fact, the book itself poignantly honors the legacy of her past kitty companions, who played an important role in her practice. “I dedicated Artists and Their Cats to my late cats who were wonderful pets,” she explains. “Several years ago, I was living and working in a massive artist loft in Philadelphia that was big enough to ride a bike around inside. They loved the space and always kept me company while I worked.”
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a contemporary artist to understand this bond—simply leafing through Artists and Their Cats will paint a purrfect picture.
You can find this book in the My Modern Met Store.
In Artists and Their Cats, author Alison Nastasi explores the unbreakable bond between well-known creatives and their cat companions.
Herbert Tobias
Ai Weiwei
You can find this book in My Modern Met Store.
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