World's largest Hello Kitty exhibit opens in LA

MANILA, Philippines – This is the purr-fect news that all Hello Kitty fans have been waiting for.

In line with the 40th anniversary of the brand,  the largest Hello Kitty retrospective boasting with a massive collection of items pegged to Hello Kitty is on display at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles.

The exhibition titled Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty merges a presentation of historical and sociological exploration of the Hello Kitty trend with colorful art display highlighting the character’s influence on modern art.

According to reports, some displays include “Kittypatra” – a 12-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture of  Cleopatra-inspired Hello Kitty to show its religious significance in Egypt. To put on view how Hello Kitty inspires pop art, clothes of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga with Hello Kitty designs are also included in the display.

While it was revealed just months ago that Hello Kitty is not a cat, the adorable "feline" remains a strong figure that represents the Japanese, an identity marker, especially for those who grew up in the 1970s.

The exhibit will be on view through Apr. 26, 2015. Workshops, lectures and panel discussions will also be offered during the run of the exhibition.