About
I'm Rik Catlow, an illustrator, designer and artist based in Austin, TX. I work under the handle rikcat.
The work draws from mid-century illustration, vintage advertising, and cartoons from an era before everything got bland and safe. The through line is usually dark, a little strange, and occasionally funny — sometimes on purpose. Influences include Jim Flora, Gary Baseman, Gary Taxali, Aaron Draplin, House Industries, and Morning Breath.
Clients have included Element Brands, Burton Snowboards, Scholastic Books, 20th Century Fox, and Grammy-winning band The Mavericks. My work has been shown in galleries and toured as part of museum collections.
I grew up outside New York City, which has a way of teaching you that nothing you make is precious and you should probably just keep going. I've been applying that lesson ever since.
I live in Austin with my wife Wassa, my daughter Becca, and two cats.
Solo Exhibitions
- 2008 - "New Works" TAG Art Gallery - Nashville, TN
- 2007 - "Midnight Garden" Foundation One Gallery - Decatur, GA
- 2003 - "New Works" TAG Art Gallery - Nashville, TN
- 1997 - "Eyeball Martini" Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
Group Exhibitions
- 2025 - "77 Coasters" Galerie A - Sion, Switzerland
- 2023 - "Collaborate: Eyez" Meaty Graffiti - Memphis, TN
- 2018 - "Afterhours: AIGA Austin Poster Show" - Austin, TX
- 2011 - "Dig for Fire: Art Inspired by the Pixies" C.A.V.E Gallery - Los Angeles, CA
- 2010 - "Twilight Zone Show" at Gallery1988 - Los Angeles, CA
- 2008 - Distinction Gallery "Infinity Squared" - Escondido, CA
- 2008 - "It's A Freakin Art Show: Work Inspired by Family Guy" The Paley Center for Media - New York, NY
- 2007 - "Midnight Garden: The Daydreams and Nightmares of Dan May, Todd Lawson & Rik Catlow." Foundation One Gallery - Decatur, GA
- 2007 - "Source Material" Garden Fresh Gallery - Chicago, IL
- 2006 - "Favorites Show" Outer Edge Studio - Monterey, CA
- 2006 - "What the Deuce!" Museum of Television & Radio - Los Angeles, CA
- 2006 - "Mike Burnett's NeighborWOOD" Compound Gallery - Portland, OR
- 2005 - "Everything but the Kitchen Synch" - La Luz de Jesus - Los Angeles, CA
- 2004 - Wooster Collective "HOLLYWOOD: THE REMIX" - Wooster Art Space - New York, NY
- 2003 - "Raw Stitches" Camp Fig - Austin, TX
- 2003 - "Five Dudes" Camp Fig - Austin, TX
- 2003 - "Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists" La Luz de Jesus - Los Angeles, CA
- 2002 - "Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists" La Luz de Jesus - Los Angeles, CA
Publications
- 2008 - Portland Mercury - Cover Illustration
- 2007 - Seattle Stranger - Cover Illustration
- 2006 - Seattle Stranger - Cover Illustration
- 2005 - Art Prostitute #3 - Feature Article
- 2025 - Plundershock #5 - Artist Profile
Select Clients
- Element Brands
- Burton Snowboards
- Gilson Snowboards
- Muzak
- Scholastic Books
- 20th Century Fox (Family Guy)
- The Mavericks - Grammy award winning band.