As much as Roxanna Mostatabi is a self-proclaimed alter ego of the Victorian age “cat lady”, you would never guess it by looking at this vivacious and versatile artist.  Her exhibit at Noco Studio, however, was an illustrious shrine to all things imaginable of the feline persuasion — reflecting Mostatabi’s mysterious and quirky love affair with the furry bundles of joy. Brimming with whimsy and humor, her paintings ran the gamut of illustration, fine art portraiture and mixed-media pieces.

The brilliance of the presentation included many thoughtful details that accentuated the theme of her well-attended show: plastic bowls filled with faux kibble for guests to snack on, magazines and books dedicated to cat care strewn about the gallery, and toy mice tucked away in random places, much like they might be in real life. Mostatabi’s cuties were portrayed as sadistic, plotting demons; playful creatures who lived under the sea; and fanciful aristocrats — or rather, aristocats.  One such rendering even went off tangent to ponder whether Carl Jung might have spent some time thinking about said kitties.

 

The inspiration for Mostatabi’s art exhibit sprung from her real life cat Sherlock who was one of a litter of abandoned kittens found several months ago. Mostatabi muses that she adores his endearing qualities in the way that he behaves more like a dog, being on the polar opposite of feral and knowing how to fetch. Confounding? Somewhat, but might there be a “Puppy Show” on the horizon?

Roxanna Mostatabi earned her BFA in Illustration from Cal State Fullerton in 2008. Her work has been shown at various venues in Orange County. She teaches art to kids and creates portraits and personal work for local art shows.  She is available for illustration and portrait commissions.

For more information on how to purchase the featured paintings or archival prints email RoxannaArt@gmail.com. Although not representative of her current works, you can also view some of her older paintings here at  www.roxannamostatabi.com.


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