Maneki Neko Love, 2026

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This work represents a Maneki-neko, the famous Japanese lucky cat, revisited in a pop art / street art spirit.

The cat is entirely painted white, with a smiling face with closed eyes that gives it a calm and benevolent expression. Its left paw is raised, faithful to the tradition of the Maneki-neko, a symbol of luck, prosperity, and welcome.

The entire lower part of the sculpture is covered with a dynamic composition of "Love" words hand-painted in a multitude of bright colors – blue, pink, orange, green, yellow, and black. These inscriptions overlap many brushstroke or felt hearts, creating a spontaneous graffiti effect. Fine projections of colored paint come to rhythm the whole and reinforce the urban aesthetic of the work.

The traditional red collar of the cat is punctuated by a gold medallion in the center of which a black heart is featured, bringing a precious touch that contrasts with the free energy of the colored inscriptions. Some red hearts are also painted on the face and flanks, while the ears, mouth, and certain details are highlighted in red, recalling the iconographic codes of the classic Maneki-neko.

The whole plays on the contrast between the purity of the white background and the explosion of colors of the motifs. This creation diverts an emblematic symbol of Japanese culture into a contemporary sculpture, joyful and expressive, where messages of love and street art codes mix to convey a sensation of optimism, happiness, and positive energy.