An upcoming Hello Kitty exhibit, "Hello! Exploring The Supercute World Of Hello Kitty,” will soon have Hello Kitty fans taking over the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. "Hello!" will open its doors Saturday, October 11.

The first-of-its kind exhibit will feature curated artwork and products inspired by Hello Kitty, according to a press release. Visitors who wish to explore Hello Kitty analytically will have opportunities, such as panel discussions, to explore Hello Kitty’s influence on contemporary art and on bridging Japanese and U.S. cultures. 

According to Sanrio’s Dave Marchi, Senior Director of Brand Management & Marketing, Hello Kitty’s popularity began with a coin purse released in Japan in 1975. Word of mouth increased demand for Hello Kitty products. Even though she is a London character produced by a Japanese company, Marchi says, people today see Hello Kitty as “a citizen of the world and an international friend.

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Jamie Rivadeneira, founder and owner of pop culture boutique JapanLA, is one of the curators of "Hello!" and is responsible for overseeing its art component. Artists specializing in various mediums will be on display, such as Audrey Kawasaki, Brandi Milne, Gary Baseman, Kazuki Takamatsu, kozyndan, Osamu Watanabe and Simone Legno for tokidoki.

“The art portion of the exhibition shows how Hello Kitty fits into any world to add cuteness,” Rivadeneira said in a press release, “Her simple design makes the perfect canvas for artists to interpret her through their unique style. Hello Kitty interpreted in art evokes a sense of nostalgia for people of all ages.”

The other curator, Dr. Christine Yano, is the author of "Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across The Pacific." Dr. Yano will oversee the retrospective component of the exhibit, which will allow fans to witness Hello Kitty’s evolution over the course of 40 years. Artifacts from Sanrio’s archives will be on display, including but definitely not limited to Hello Kitty’s first telephone, vintage products from the 1980s and a Hello Kitty dress worn by Lady Gaga.

“Sanrio’s clever design enables a kind of flexibility that manages to appeal to a variety of people of different ages and cultures,” Dr. Yano says, “You could say that her relative blankness allows for a broad appeal, but I think it’s part of Sanrio’s creativity with the character, as well.”

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The exhibit, which will continue through April 2015, is part of a series of events celebrating Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary, including a convention dedicated to the character. The exhibit is a specially ticketed event; those who wish to buy tickets can do so here.

"Hello! Exploring The Supercute World Of Hello Kitty” will be at the Japanese American National Museum:

100 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 625-0414

Reach staff reporter Heidi Carreon here and follow her on Twitter here.