Super Cute Queen Kitty

Saturday I was in Little Tokyo to view the Hello Kitty exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum. The exhibit is over at the end of May, so you still have time to see this amazing show! Hello Kitty is truly an icon. I was overwhelmed by the amount of merchandise Sanrio has produced over the years in her honor.

The Museum was overrun with adorable little girls, oooooing and ahhhhing over all of the vintage merchandise.

Hello Kitty has a back-story...

She never seems to get angry, unlike her American counter-part, Angry Asian Girl!

I really enjoyed seeing the art portion of the exhibit.  Many artists, especially from the low-brow school, have been influenced to use images of Kitty in their artwork.  Here are some of my favorites:

Audrey Kawasaki, "Hi Kitty," 2014, Oil and Graphite on Wood

Gary Baseman, "Play Date," 2014, Acrylic on Wood

Scott Scheidly, "Hello Lincoln," 2014, Acrylic Painting on Masonite

I positively drooled over this collage of Kitty, utilizing the ultimate in costume jewelry, cheerful flower pins!

Michael Courville, "Hello Kitty in Bloom," 2014, Mixed Media

Detail, "Hello Kitty in Bloom"

The fashion show, using Hello Kitty items to create couture was really fab!  These dresses were worn by the contestants during a season of "America's Next Top Model."

Walking through the exhibit, I came to the realization that Kitty does not have a mouth! I guess many people had this same observation:

Click on picture to enlarge

"Kittypatra"

Kitty Hieroglyphics on the side of "Kittypatra"

The Gift Shop was full of MORE Kitty collectibles

It was a rude awakening, after walking through the Hello Kitty exhibit to abruptly be thrown into the exhibit about Japanese internment during World War II.  Light vs. Dark.

Site Model of Japanese Internment Camp at Manzanar

The Japanese American National Museum is a truly wonderful place to visit.  There's so much to see in the surrounding area too...excellent restaurants and shops!  Plan your visit soon!