Nastassia Sharanhovich
Nastassia Sharanhovich is a Philadelphia-based cat illustrator and miniature bookbinder. A native of Belarus, she immigrated to the US in 2015. Nastassia has been involved with the arts since 2006, the year she was admitted into a local State Art School in Belarus. After moving to the United States she continued her art journey at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts until 2023 and currently getting her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art at the University of Pennsylvania.
Screen printing and book binding fascinated her during her studies in the Academy. Those techniques gave Nastassia unlimited possibilities to create. She now works predominantly in screen printing and is currently gaining recognition for her work in the Philadelphia arts community.
Artist Statement
As an illustrator of cats, in each of my prints I try to express each cat’s unique personality and character. They are my favorite creatures, full of quirks and behaviors, which makes them a fascinating companion to watch and to illustrate. My artwork is inspired by their playful and mischievous nature, which they effortlessly mix with their grace and elegance.
I work primarily in the medium of screen print, and love the handmade feel of the prints. I’m drawn to the tactile nature of screen printing. The entire process from creating stencils to the mixing of inks to pulling the squeegee across the mesh screen to transfer the image onto paper or fabric is really both calming and thrilling in one sense.
I love to play with colors and negative spaces to make each cat alive and unique in its character. Be it a naughty kitten or a majestic tom, each of my illustrations tells some story about the illustrated cat.
My enthusiasm comes from my own cat, and those present in my life. Observing the ways in which they move around and interact with things gives me the inspiration to capture it into relatable and engaging artwork.
Hopefully, with my work, I bring humor and a smile to the fellow cat enthusiast. Whether an image of an adored pet or a fanciful scene of kittenish frolicking, each piece of art is a beautiful celebration of these incredible creatures.
Nastassia Sharanhovich 