The captivating allure of cats is currently on full display at the "MEOW FACTOR. Cats Between Art, Media, Meme and AI" exhibition, running from October 3 to December 12, 2025, at Cellar Contemporary in Trento. This exhibition delves into the profound influence felines have on our artistic expressions, digital culture, and contemporary viewpoints.
"MEOW FACTOR" is part of a broader cultural moment celebrating the enduring presence of cats in art and media. Earlier in 2025, Milan's Art Gallery Finestreria hosted "TUTTI GATTI," a group exhibition featuring 29 artists exploring feline imagery. Concurrently, 'Arte per voi' organized "Molto più che 4 gatti," another collective exhibition showcasing innovative interpretations of the feline theme. These events collectively underscore a growing fascination with cats within contemporary visual culture.
The "MEOW FACTOR" exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore the intricate connections between art, digital media, internet memes, and artificial intelligence, prompting visitors to consider the significant and multifaceted role cats play in our society. Details regarding visiting hours and ticket information are available on the Cellar Contemporary website.
The historical significance of cats in art is vast, dating back to ancient Egypt where they were revered as sacred animals associated with the goddess Bastet. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, cats appeared in art with evolving symbolism, famously depicted by artists like Leonardo da Vinci. The 18th and 19th centuries saw a golden age of feline painting, exemplified by Carl Kahler's monumental work "My Wife's Lovers" (1893), depicting 42 cats. This painting was sold for over $800,000, demonstrating the enduring value of classical art featuring cats. In the digital age, cats have transcended traditional art forms to become internet phenomena.
Cat memes, such as 'Grumpy Cat,' 'Nyan Cat,' and 'Keyboard Cat,' first rose to prominence over a decade ago, evolving from simple shared images to powerful cultural symbols. Brands have capitalized on this trend, using cat-themed content to engage audiences and inject humor into their campaigns, leveraging the relatability of cats' quirky behaviors and expressions for moment marketing. Furthermore, AI is increasingly being used to generate cat-themed art, with platforms like Midjourney and DALL-E creating new interpretations of feline imagery, and sites like ThisCatDoesNotExist.com showcasing AI's fascination with the feline figure, sparking debate about originality and artistic creation. These AI-generated works showcase a fascinating intersection of technology and artistic expression, offering a glimpse into the future of digital art.
The "MEOW FACTOR" exhibition, by bringing together these diverse elements, highlights how cats continue to be a powerful source of inspiration and a reflection of our evolving cultural landscape. The exhibition includes a multimedia section with AI-created videos, where cats are reinterpreted according to new algorithmic logics, emphasizing how cats, as fluid and interactive icons, are capable of connecting various levels of global visual culture, from "Hello Kitty" to viral memes.