Kyoto Kitty 

Lucia Heffernan painted “Kyoto Kitty” with oils to create a humorously anthropomorphic scene. Here we see the tradition of portraiture updated through the internet’s obsession with cats. The cat is dressed in a traditional Geisha's wig and kimono and is posed eating sushi, a food synonymous with Japanese culture. The golden halo is reminiscent of that seen in religious iconography, elevating the status of the domestic feline to something divine. The question this picture poses is, why? The history of portraiture in Western art has often been about elevating the status of the sitter. The cat’s adoption of Japanese cultural symbols might be read as a post-colonial critique of cultural appropriation. Through art history research, we might better understand Heffernan’s intentions behind the painting’s cultural references and sartorial choices. Ultimately, the work is a commentary on cultural institutions and social values in the 21st century.