Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty, the Japanese American National Museum’s hit exhibition celebrating the iconic Sanrio character’s 40th anniversary, has been extended for one month. Hello! will now be on view through May 31, 2015.
Hello! is the first large-scale museum retrospective of the pop icon in the United States. The exhibition combines an extensive product retrospective of rare and unique items from the Sanrio archives alongside a selection of innovative contemporary artworks inspired by Hello Kitty and her world.
New artifacts have recently been incorporated into the exhibition. These include miniature dioramas depicting a Hello Kitty-infused bedroom, kitchen, café, and bakery; meticulous Hello Kitty bento display models; and numerous items created over the years that explore the many ways Hello Kitty can be incorporated into one’s daily life—a broom and lint-roller set, a thermometer, a DVD player, cameras, diaries, a computer keyboard, and more.
In early March, additional couture creations first featured on America’s Next Top Model and multiple displays exploring Hello Kitty’s role in fashion and personal expression will also be added.
Hello! was curated by Christine Yano, PhD, a professor of anthropology at the University of Hawaii and author of Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across the Pacific, and Jamie Rivadeneira, founder and owner of pop culture-inspired boutique JapanLA. Rivadeneira previously curated Hello Kitty’s 35th anniversary exhibition as well as Sanrio’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Tickets for all available dates of Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty are on sale now.
Adult admission is $20; admission for ages 6-17 is $10; children 5 and under are free. All admissions are based on timed entry and advance purchase is strongly encouraged.
Tickets are available online at http://janm.org/hellokitty. Hello! admission also includes the museum’s ongoing exhibition Common Ground: The Heart of Community, an overview of Japanese American history from early immigration to the present day.
Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty is supported by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; and Typecraft.