A Sneak Peek Into A Book Featuring 50 Famous Artists And Their Beloved Cats

Cats are a universal muse

Kylin

• Published in Film & TV
• June 25, 2022

Inspired by the love she has for cats, artist Alison Natasi curated a pretty unique book. Artists and Their Cats is a masterful collection of behind-the-scenes stories about more than 50 legendary artists and their beloved feline companions.

A picture of Salvador Dali, the famous surrealism artist, and his gorgeous and deeply treasured Colombian ocelot Babou, graces the book’s cover. Never one to do something “typical”, Dalí got Babou in the 1960s and would bring him along almost everywhere, with a leash attached to a studded collar.

If asked to define a stereotypical “artistic type,” most people would probably describe someone who would be eccentric, a non-conformist of sorts, who may be impulsive or reclusive. Which also can describe the stereotypically aloof creatures that are domestic cats.

So it’s really no wonder that cats and artists have bonded so well. Cats have been a constant muse and companion for thousands of artists for centuries.

In the introduction, Natasai writes: “behind many great artists is a great…cat. …Many artists buck notions of a stereotypical temperament, but researchers have long speculated that creative individuals share common attributes—which mirror those of cats.”

The book explores the relationships between both past and present artists, alongside photos of each artist and their cat, hence the name of the book. Many iconic artists like Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and Pablo Picasso are featured in this book.

We were able to nab a handful of artists and their cats who are included in the book. So scroll down to get a sneak peek into Artists and Their Cats.

Artists and Their Cats, as inspected by a cat

1. John Cage

2. Georgia O’Keeffe

3. Herbert Tobias

4. Henri Matisse

5. Maya Lin

6. Pablo Picasso

Picasso had lived with many cats throughout his life. So it's no surprise he portrayed them in his many of his paintings, like Woman with Cat (1900) and Chat et homard (Cat and Lobster, 1965).

7. Andy Warhol

Warhol published a book of cat drawings titled 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy

8. Jean-Michel Basquiat

9. Ai Weiwei

Contemporary artist Ai Weiwei has more than 40 cats living at his Bejing studio. He trades a safe home for pictures that he likes to share on his social media.

In 2006, the artist shared more about his connection with his four-legged companions in one of his blog posts: “The cats and dogs in my home enjoy high status; they seem more like the lords of the manor than I do,” he wrote. “The poses they strike in the courtyard often inspire more joy in me than the house itself. Their self-important positions seem to be saying, ‘This is my territory,’ and that makes me happy.”

Artists and Their Cats

Salvador Dali, the famous surrealism artist, graces the book’s cover with his gorgeous and deeply treasured Colombian ocelot Babou. Never one to do something “typical”, Dalí got Babou in the 1960s and would bring him along almost everywhere, on a leash attached to a studded collar.

You can find out more about Alison Nastasi’s book, Artists and Their Cats, and her other collections on her website, where they also provide links to where you can purchase the book to see all 50+ artists with their cherished kitties. You can follow Nastasi on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

In the meantime, drop a comment below with your favorite cat and artist duo, and share this with another cat-lover.

Kylin