Spooky Selections from the CAT Collection

Digging through the CAT Museum’s collection of over 4,000 artworks can sometimes get a little spooky. Our Director of Collections, Ashley Walker, put together a list of the scariest objects she has come across so far. They are listed below from least to most frightening. Only the bravest readers will make it to the end!

1 out of 10 Scaries:

This person In Disguise is both endearing and a little creepy.

Janusz Walentynowicz (American, born Poland, 1956). In Disguise, 1993. Cast glass and steel. 37 3/8 × 10 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.187.1.

2 out of 10 Scaries:

A night spent in this Spirit House would result in a few ghost encounters.

José Chardiet (American, born Cuba, 1956). Spirit House, 1987. Cased, hot-worked, and sandblasted glass. 7 1/4 × 3 1/8 × 3 1/8 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.177.2.

3 out of 10 Scaries:

With imbedded bodies, mysterious objects, and visual references to the afterlife, this boat is sailing somewhere scary.

Bertil Vallien (Swedish, born 1938). Beginning, 1987. Sand cast glass, copper. 5 1/4 × 78 × 4 1/2 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.25.6.

4 out of 10 Scaries:

What happened on this chair?! Perhaps spontaneous liquefaction? No doubt spooky.

Daisuke Shintani (Japanese, active 20^th century). Untitled, about 2000-2010. Cast bronze, slumped glass. 27 1/4 × 8 × 11 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2024.252.1.

5 out of 10 Scaries:

A stack of severed heads! Eeek!

Robert Mickelsen (American, born 1951). Goblet, 1994. Blown and flameworked glass. 18 3/8 x 4 1/8 in. On loan from the collection of Thomas Cafesjian and Kathleen Cafesjian Baradaran 5DA-1048.

6 out of 10 Scaries:

This ghostly, emaciated body looks like something from another world.

Robin Grebe (American, born 1957). Reservoir, about 1980–1990. Pâte de verre and blown glass, slate, ceramic, and copper. 46 × 10 5/8 × 8 1/4 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.17.2.

7 out of 10 Scaries:

This combination of a coyote skull and a metal gear has the vibe of an abandoned junk yard in the desert.

Clifford Rainey (Northern Irish, born 1948). Secret Circle: Coyote Aluminum Sun, Cultural/Environmental series, 1992. Cast glass, partially frosted sheet glass, cast aluminum, and steel. 24 1/8 × 18 × 6 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.176.1

8 out of 10 Scaries:

This ghoulish sea of empty faces looks like a mob of zombies coming right for you.

Ann Wolff (Swedish, born 1937). Performance, 2010. Cast glass. 26 × 33 1/4 × 9 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2024.9.5.

9 out of 10 Scaries:

This woman looks like she has seen some terrible things.

Kevin Irvin (American). Untitled I, 1996. Mixed media on canvas. 14 x 14 in. Cafesjian Art Trust T.AS.1052.

10 out of 10 Scaries:

The favorite goblet of your sleep paralysis demon.

Robert Mickelsen (American, born 1951). Hunter Kudu, 1994. Blown, etched, and flameworked glass. 15 5/8 x 7 x 7 in. On loan from the Collection of Thomas Cafesjian and Kathleen Cafesjian Baradaran. Cafesjian Art Trust T.AS.648