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==Legacy and impact== [[File:Micky Green 20080720 Auxerre 8.jpg|thumb|Singer-songwriter [[Micky Green]] with a Hello Kitty [[Fender Stratocaster|Stratocaster]] guitar]] In 1994, artist [[Tom Sachs (artist)|Tom Sachs]] was invited to create a scene for [[Barneys New York]] Christmas displays and titled it ''Hello Kitty Nativity''. In the scene, the [[Virgin Mary]] was replaced by [[Madonna]] with an open [[Chanel]] bra, the three Kings were all [[Bart Simpson]], the stable was marked by a [[McDonald's]] logo, and the [[Christ Child]] was replaced by Hello Kitty. This contemporary revision of the nativity scene<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/13/nyregion/barneys-halts-store-display-of-pop-creche-in-window.html?pagewanted=1 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Barneys Halts Store Display Of Pop Creche in Window |first=Bruce |last=Weber |access-date=22 April 2010 | date=13 December 1994}}</ref> demonstrated Sachs' interest in the phenomena of [[consumerism]], branding, and the cultural fetishization of products. Many audiences instead took offense to the artwork, which received backlash from Catholic organizations for its misuse of Christian symbolism. In 2009, [[Tom Sachs (artist)|Tom Sachs']] ''Bronze Collection'' was shown at the Public art space in Manhattan's [[Lever House#Public art space|Lever House]], as well as in the Baldwin Gallery in [[Aspen, Colorado]], and the [[Trocadéro, Paris|Trocadéro]] in [[Paris]]. The collection featured white bronze casts of a foam core Hello Kitty sculpture – a style distinctive to the artist. As of April 2010, the ''Wind-Up Hello Kitty'' sculpture is still on display at Lever House.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tomsachs.org/exhibition/bronze-collection | title=Bronze Collection | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712014028/http://www.tomsachs.org/exhibition/bronze-collection |archive-date=12 July 2015 | website=[[Tom Sachs (artist)|Tom Sachs]] website |url-status=dead}}</ref> Although Sachs did not seek permission to use the character in his work, a brand marketing manager for Sanrio was quoted as saying "You know, there was [[Marilyn Monroe]] and [[Andy Warhol]], and then [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Jeff Koons]]. When you're an icon, that's what happens."<ref>Goldstein, Andrew M. [https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/47046/ "Kitsch Kitties Stolen by Unctuous Artist"] ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine (18 May 2008)</ref> In 2013 ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' said Sanrio's attitude to copyright was "[[wikt:laissez faire|laissez-faire]]" compared to companies like [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], and that they have let artists use Hello Kitty's likeness without interfering.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keane |first1=Meghan |title=How Hello Kitty Conquered the World|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324600704578405042212303354 |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=12 April 2013|access-date=7 December 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2015, a nine-foot tall [[pearlescent]] Hello Kitty sculpture by artist [[Sebastian Masuda]] was exhibited at the [[Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza]] in [[New York City]], as part of the Japan Society's exhibition: ''Life of Cats: Selections from the Hiraki [[Ukiyo-e]] Collection''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/giant-hello-kitty-sculpture-popped-up-new-york-city|title=A Giant Hello Kitty Sculpture Just Popped Up In New York City - Catster|first=Phillip|last=Mlynar|date=29 April 2015|website=Catster.com|access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref> Canadian singer-songwriter [[Avril Lavigne]] wrote and recorded a song called "[[Hello Kitty (song)|Hello Kitty]]" for her fifth studio album, ''[[Avril Lavigne (album)|Avril Lavigne]]'', released in 2013. The Hello Kitty [[Fender Stratocaster|Stratocaster]] guitar, originally released in 2005, was initially aimed at pre-teen girls,<ref name="engadget2005" /> but has since been used by notable guitarists including [[Krist Novoselic]], [[Courtney Love]], [[Dave Navarro]], and [[Lisa Loeb]].<ref>{{cite web |title=See all things Hello Kitty at EMP's new exhibit |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/see-all-things-hello-kitty-at-emps-new-exhibit/ |website=HeraldNet.com |access-date=7 December 2022 |date=13 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Dan J. |title=Hello Kitty hits the catwalk |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2011/oct/06/hello-kitty-hits-the-catwalk |website=the Guardian |access-date=7 December 2022 |language=en |date=6 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hey, what's that sound: Hello Kitty guitar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/18/hello-kitty-guitar |website=the Guardian |access-date=7 December 2022 |language=en |date=18 May 2009}}</ref> In 2022, vintage Hello Kitty Stratocasters were among the most popular musical instruments sold on the marketplace [[Reverb.com]]. While it originally retailed for $230, some re-sold for over $1,000.<ref name="engadget2005" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/11/hello-kitty-guitar-stratocaster|title=How a Hello Kitty guitar became the hottest Stratocaster| date=11 December 2022|first=James |last=Tapper| work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In 2022, ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' aired a sketch parodying Hello Kitty's backstory (described by ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' as "incongruous, corporate-sanctioned") and Sanrio's handling of it.<ref>{{cite web |title=SNL returns for its best episode of the season with host Keke Palmer. |url=https://www.avclub.com/snl-review-season-48-episode-7-keke-palmer-1849851635 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=5 December 2022 |language=en |date=4 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="atlantic2022">{{cite web |last1=Garber |first1=Megan |title=The 'SNL' Sketch That Perfectly Mocks Our Upside-Down Reality |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/12/snl-hello-kitty-sketch-keke-palmer/672358/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=5 December 2022 |language=en |date=4 December 2022}}</ref> The sketch centers on managers at a fictional Hello Kitty store. They describe the character in contradictory terms as a "human little girl" who is in third grade and also 48 years old.<ref name="atlantic2022" /> ''[[The Atlantic]]'' described the sketch as both "a skewering of the ever-expanding Hello Kitty commercial universe" and as capturing the [[gaslighting]] and manipulation of truth of the time.<ref name="atlantic2022" /> In 2024, Hello Kitty teamed up with [[Bruno Mars]] to celebrate her [https://www.today.com/popculture/news/hello-kitty-facts-rcna162578 50th anniversary]. The collaboration included Hello Kitty x Bruno Mars merchandise and food & drink Specials at [https://www.sanrio.com/blogs/hellokittycafe/hello-kitty-cafe-at-the-park-mgm-las-vegas?srsltid=AfmBOooEG4Wvf-Yj2oU75c375FSPkD8s54xNUHZr7YNM-2_x1Z6KNTTF Hello Kitty Cafe at The Park MGM Las Vegas]. Both Hello Kitty and Bruno Mars welcomed fans to [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hello-kitty-and-bruno-mars-reunite-in-las-vegas-to-celebrate-her-50th-anniversary-302327821.html celebrate the partnership] "just the way you are" in the spirit of inclusivity, friendship and kindness. The merchandise is still available to purchase on the [https://www.sanrio.com/collections/hello-kitty-x-bruno-mars?srsltid=AfmBOoqeeZQhHuVRSzYtda8LFA1frZTGkMUANjfj7-wEu2nEMh7BoSLt Sanrio website].
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