Lorenzo the cat

Overview and history

Lorenzo was abandoned at birth and left in a trash can. Four weeks later, he was adopted by Joann Biondi, a writer and photographer. It was shortly after that when Lorenzo began making his first appearances on news channels and fashion shows. Lorenzo's abilities were discovered purely by accident when Biondi made him wear a tank top one day as a punishment for stealing dirty clothes from the laundry basket and dragging them all around the apartment. In an interview with CNN, Biondi said, "As it turned out, this was not a very effective punishment because Lorenzo was not fazed by the shirt. Quite to the contrary, he loved it! And thus, his modelling career was born".

According to Biondi, Lorenzo is "an international feline sensation". He has pages on MySpace and Facebook, maintains active accounts on both YouTube and Twitter, and has an online fan base consisting of thousands of followers from all over the world. His outfits often engage in both social and political commentaries as well as humor and fashion. These people regularly "cheer him on, ask his advice, and laugh at his wise guy antics" Also, Lorenzo's tastes have expanded beyond just tank tops. These days, he has his own personal tailor—Mr. Luigi of Tuscany—who hand sews all the clothes that the cat wears during his photo shoots.

Career

Despite Lorenzo's sweet personality and his eagerness to please, owner Biondi admits that sometimes Lorenzo's natural feline habits make the photography sessions more challenging. According to Lorenzo's website, the shoots can last up to a few weeks, or take just a few days. Everything depends on Lorenzo's level of cooperation. As Biondi acknowledges: "Although Lorenzo enjoys posing, he is still a cat, which means that during a shoot he often wants to chase lizards, tear down backdrops, groom his tail, or take a nap".

Recognition

Biondi's work has been displayed in several galleries and art museums up and down the East Coast. The photographs have been described as "a testament to the inherent beauty in the feline form. They spark the imagination, force us to smile, and speak to the bond among all sentient beings. And they are thump on the head to anyone who believes that animals don't have souls.

Lorenzo has been recognized in several different forms of media, from local papers to international television networks. Some publication credits include: