Yuki Shimizu first drew Hello Kitty—the cartoon cat who lives in a London suburb with twin sister, Mimmy—in 1974. Exactly 50 years on, the character’s influence hasn’t waned. Is it because Hello Kitty captures some sort of cultural discourse? Or is it simply that she’s cute? This exhibition looks at the power of cuteness across culture—in music, fashion, toys, and video games. Artists Mike Kelley, Bunny Rogers, Liv Preston, and many more address our hard-wired attraction to “cream colored ponies” and “whiskers on kittens.” —Elena Clavarino