KU alumnus to hold art show in Kansas City

Artist Van Buren draws his inspiration from “furries”

By Matt Lindberg

Friday, September 7, 2007

An artist can get his inspiration from almost anything. Just ask Jay Van Buren, a 1994 KU graduate living in Brooklyn, N.Y. Van Buren is having “Fursuit Portrait Paint-off” from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at The Cross Gallery, 2012 Baltimore Ave. in Kansas City, Mo. Van Buren’s show will feature his paintings of people who dress in human-sized animal costumes called “furries.”

What got you into art and developed your style?

It was a weird process. It started with abstract geometric paintings, which is very complicated. I started to put things on a table and paint them — specifically stuffed animals — like a teddy bear. Then I literally began painting huge-sized furries.

What was your experience at KU like?

I studied painting and I got a fantastic education. I had really strong painters for professors who really taught me well. It was really a good place to be as a painter.”

You have been living in Brooklyn, so why have a show in Kansas City?

“The gallery where my event is at actually had done a show with me 10 years ago. They looked at my work again, and the show came together. I thought it was a great chance to come back because I grew up in Topeka, attended KU and I lived in Lawrence. I have family and close friends here.

What inspires you to paint furries?

When people look at a stuffed animal — they believe it has some type of personality, or it’s dead. People will say my work is creepy or cute. I always paint from reality, and it’s a serious commitment because I’m not just painting a person in an animal costume. I am trying to get the persona of the person in that suit and the suit itself at the same time.

What do you hope students will gain by attending your show?

I want people to have a good time. I think my paintings have a special appeal that even non-paint fans can get into and enjoy.

What can people expect from the show?

A lot will be going on­ — we’ll have an emcee hosting the show, a sculpture maker. This event is really about two subcultures coming together, one being the art world and the second being furry fandom. Furry fandom is a subculture of fans who enjoy the idea of dressing in furries and creating this other personality.

— Edited by Amelia Freidline

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