Fine Art PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Fine Art PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Hello Kitty Art Show at Three Apples Exhibition: SANRIO Collaborates With 80 Popular Artists to Celebrate 35 Years of Hello Kitty

It’s Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and SANRIO is celebrating in a big way. In addition to launching a variety of special, limited edition products, SANRIO will introduce Three Apples, a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty running from October 23 to November 15 at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. Royal/T is the visually stunning and playful, 10,000 square foot Japanese-inspired art exhibition space, retail store and “cosplay” maid cafe, located within the city’s vibrant arts community.

This is the first time that SANRIO has produced an event for the Hello Kitty fans in North America. The exhibition as well as all events will be open to the public free of charge and will offer something for all Hello Kitty fans, no matter their age.

Three Apples — so named as a nod to Hello Kitty’s weight as listed in her official bio – features an unprecedented lineup of over 80 celebrated artists, who’ve been invited to interpret their creative vision of Hello Kitty in unique, original works that will be on display and for sale. The art exhibition at Three Apples will be curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, a Los Angeles boutique that specializes in “cute” Japanese and American products. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit L.A. Works, a volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Some of the featured artists include:

— Amada Visell’s work combines images of childhood folklore and fantasy,
and naughty “not quite fit for the
tuck-you-in-with-a-nice-bed-time-story crowd.” Many of her
signature characters like Drunky McSkunky or The Pink Elephant are cute
with a dark side. Along with her unique illustrations, Amanda has
ventured into the toy world as well with her own plush company, My
Switcheroo, which has released a plush Frank Kozik monger that stands
over 2 feet tall. She also created artwork for Disneyland for the
anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, as well as other
events.
— Colin Christian was born and raised in London where he was influenced by
music, fashion and counterculture. Inspired by old sci-fi movies, pinup
girl/supermodels, anime, ambient electronic music and H.P. Lovecraft,
his original fiberglass figures and sculptures are cartoon realism eye
candy. Christian’s work has been featured on The Today Show, and he
created the world’s largest mouse trap for pest control company Truly
Nolen, which is now featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.
— Buff Monster cites heavy metal music, ice cream and Japanese culture as
his major influences. His signature Pepto pink palette is a symbol of
confidence, individuality and happiness and can be found in all his
works, including fine art paintings, design projects and toy
collaborations. Featured in numerous publications, including Juxtapoz
and The New York Times, Buff Monster works tirelessly day and night to
spread happiness, joy and a love of pink
— Frank Kozik is a prolific artist, graphic designer and toy creator who
has been featured in Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Spin and Details. Credited
with single-handedly reviving the art of the concert poster, Kozik has
produced hundreds of full-color, limited edition, silk screened posters
under his belt for such renowned artists as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Red
Hot Chili Peppers, Ice T, Jane’s Addiction and The Beastie Boys. His art
has been featured in over 60 exhibitions worldwide, including Tokyo and
London, and Kozik’s signature vinyl toys are coveted by collectors from
around the globe.
— Friends With You (FWY) is an artist collaborative founded by Miami-based
artists Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Since its conception in
2002, FWY has promoted the artists’ common message of magic, luck, and
friendship, through its popular designer toy line, public art
installations, new-form playgrounds, published works, live performances,
and animation, motion picture, and multimedia projects. FWY has been
featured at many of the most prestigious events in the global creative
community including Art Basel in Miami and Pictoplasma in Berlin and was
created with one basic concept in mind, to become Friends With You!
— Gary Baseman defines “pervasive art,” blurring the line
between toy culture and fine art with his strong iconic imagery, unique
collaborations and unforgettable experiential gallery exhibitions,
including his 2009 solo show and Basemanesque festival “La Noche de
la Fusion.” A leader in the global art movement, Baseman is a
three-time Emmy award winning creator/executive producer of the animated
series and film “Teacher’s Pet,” designer for the best selling
game “Cranium,” and Entertainment Weekly named Baseman one of
the 100 Most Creative People in Entertainment.
— Huck Gee is a contemporary artist, illustrator, toy maker, and designer
best known by toy enthusiasts for his iconic “Skullhead”
character. Influenced by Japanese and Hong Kong pop art, Gee calls his
style “Bastardized Asian Pop Culture.” In 2005, Gee partnered
with KidRobot and Barneys New York on a unique project with fashion
designers Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, Rick Owens, and
Duckie Brown, and in 2007 Gee’s KidRobot collaboration with artists
Tristan Eaton and Paul Budnitz was accepted into the permanent
collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
— Luke Chueh’s paintings playfully weave light and dark narratives,
connecting Pop Culture, Street Culture, and Geek Culture. Featured in
Nylon magazine, Juxtapoz and Entertainment Weekly, Chueh’s highly-sought
after, minimalist work is best described as “a balance of cute
& brute walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy” and
his paintings have been reinterpreted into the popular toy/urban vinyl
format by numerous respected brands.
— Natalia Fabia is known for her signature glitter veneer oil paintings of
sultry seductive women and modern ay Belle de Jours. The Los Angeles
artist cites Toulouse-Lautrec, ornate interiors, punk rock music and
sparkles among her inspirations. A media darling, Fabia has been
featured in Juxtapoz, Inked, LA Weekly, New York Arts and on television
series Miami Ink. Her custom jewelry line, HookerFeathers, adorns
celebrities and fans alike.
— Ron English, the painter whose “Abraham Obama” image struck a
chord with so many during the 2008 Presidential Election, straddles
three genres when creating his art: Pop Surrealism, Abstract
Expressionism, and Neo Realism. When he’s not working on gallery-type
pieces, English heads outside to slap posters over billboards and has
been known to leave traces of his art around international cities.
Considered one of the fathers of modern street art, he has initiated and
participated in illegal public art campaigns since the 80’s, and his
murals include the Berlin Wall and the Palestinian separation wall.
— Simone Legno is the Italian artist behind the highly popular tokidoki
brand. Growing up in the punk scene in Rome, Simone likes to mix the
edginess of girls with tattoos and brightly colored hair with his
Japanese inspired illustrations. Legno’s iconic imagery has been
featured on numerous apparel and product collaborations, and most
recently, the tokidoki creative director teamed up with mega retailer
Target to feature Legno’s designs on a series of custom items.
Recognized worldwide, tokidoki has been featured in publications from W,
Paper and Vogue to The New York Times, Variety, and Vanity Fair.
— Tara McPherson, a NYC based artist who got her start working on Matt
Groening’s “Futurama”, creates art that’s about people and
their odd ways – calling upon personal issues and experiences for
inspiration. Named the crown princess of poster art by Elle magazine,
McPherson has created visuals for numerous bands including Beck, Modest
Mouse and the Melvins. In addition to toy collaborations with various
big name companies, McPherson’s art was featured in the award winning
film Juno and has been published in numerous magazines including Vanity
Fair, Esquire, Juxtapoz, Marie Claire, and Spin.
Limited edition prints of selected artwork will be released at special events during Three Apples. For continually updated information regarding Three Apples exhibit and the events, please visit www.sanrio.com/threeapples. For more information on Royal/T, please visit www.royal-t.org.

ABOUT SANRIO

SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.

ABOUT JAPANLA

Inspired by Japanese and American Pop Culture, JapanLA is a unique retail destination that caters to adults who love “kawaii” or “cute” toys, apparel, and gifts. Owner Jamie Rivadeneira curates a highly-edited selection of rare and limited-edition items imported from Japan, including Sanrio and many other brands . They also carry items inspired by Japanese pop culture, including handpicked items made by local and international independent artists. Also a lifestyle brand, JapanLA plans creative theme parties where guests can hang out with Hello Kitty and take pictures with her, and organizes its highly-anticipated annual “JapanLA Super Mega Fun Tokyo Tour,” where customers and friends travel to Japanese destinations such as Puroland (Sanrio’s indoor theme park), Harajuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara. JapanLA makes it fun for people of all ages to share their love for “cute” in their life. JapanLA is located in the Melrose Shopping Area, at 648 N. Fuller Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Please visit the website at www.japanla.com or call (323) 934-5201 for more information.

ABOUT ROYAL/T

Located in Culver City, Royal/T is a playful blending of cafe, concept shop, and art exhibition space. The 10,000-square-foot space reflects the interior realm of fantasy that strongly influences the artist’s included in Owner Susan Hancock’s art collection. Royal/T’s cafe is inspired by the meido kissa (maid cafe) phenomena of Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronic district. Re-contextualizing the underground culture of Japan that celebrates “cosplay” (costume play), waitresses dress in maid uniforms with a Lolita-esque touch, while serving an amalgam of French and Japanese cuisine. The art space showcases curated exhibitions with a focus on Japanese contemporary art; and an inventive concept store emulates the collection’s sophistication, a seamless merging of Japanese pop culture and high-end design. Royal/T is open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. The Royal/T cafe serves lunch, high tea, and dinner daily. Self-parking is available on Washington Blvd. and in the Royal/T parking lot on Lindblade St. For additional information, please call 310.559.6300 or visit www.royal-t.org. Royal/T is also on Facebook and Twitter.