Installation view of Tessercats

By SUSAN GESCHEIDLE

Watershed Studioworks in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood is hosting "Tessercats," an exhibit by Erik Wenzel with nearly 40 feline-inspired portraits informed by theoretical mathematics, and hyperspace. Established in 2019, Watershed Studioworks operates as an artist-run gallery and studio workspace. Co-owned by visual artist Kelly Rickert and Sarah Bordson, the gallery showcases art that promotes community engagement and meaningful dialogue. Wenzel relocated his studio to Watershed Studioworks during the pandemic and started working on these paintings. The gallery is an intimate storefront space with large windows and natural light, and an ideal venue for exhibiting Wenzel’s small but mighty Tesser-cats. 

Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Wenzel’s studio and observe a selection of his kick-ass cat portraits in progress. A long-time cat enthusiast, Wenzel has produced many cat-themed works, evolving from simple sketches and doodles to these vibrant, striking portraits. Seeing them together as a group was fabulous. After a year and the completion of roughly twenty-five additional paintings, "Tessercats,” the exhibition, has come to fruition. On the gallery walls, the portraits are a veritable feast for the eyes, and I’m here for it. 

“Tessercats” represents Wenzel’s return to the art scene following a hiatus earning a Master of Art History. The exhibition title, derived from a combination of "cats" and "tesseract," refers to a four-dimensional cube. While researching the early modernist avant-garde, Wenzel became interested in hyperspace, spatial dimensions beyond the three we frequent. His focus is on the historical avant-garde's quasi-spiritual ideas about this spatial fourth dimension and how it ties into madness, mental illness, and self-care. Wenzel, an artist, curator, and writer, weaves these abstract spatial ideas into his new series of serious and silly cat paintings. Influences on his art practice include Marcel Duchamp, Gilett Burgess, the cubists, and architect and designer, Claude Bragdon. Wenzel states, “All this became an enticing way to think through history, conceive of abstract space as a mental place and explore.” 

Lindner, 2023, acrylic and graphite, on panel, 9”x 12”

In 2022, Wenzel left academia, self-published a book titled “Mental Health Illness,” featuring new work and busied himself painting cat portraits. Wenzel creates these gorgeous gems using materials such as acrylic, gesso, ink, collaged paper, puffy paint, and graphite. Most works are 9 x 12-inch panels, with some at 12 x 12 inches and one at 16 x 20 inches. In addition, the show includes two large graphite drawings.

Geometry influences the structure of these portraits: triangles and cones form the ears and nose, circles outline the eyes and cheeks, and squares are included here and there. These portraits show close-up, frontal cat faces, occasionally including shoulders. All cats are alike, yet unique. Wenzel regards the repetitive nature of his artistic process as both therapeutic and meditative. His repetitive imagery recalls Warhol’s screen prints, though each cat portrait is unique in color and materials. The subjects appear stoic and contemplative, resembling spiritual icons. Wenzel says there's no hidden message; his process is guided by intuition, with the goal of creating imaginative, four-dimensional representations of cats. Some days, inspiration comes easily; other days, he tells us, “The cats aren’t talking.” 

The paintings are fantastic and fanciful, but it’s the eyes that fascinate me. They are skillfully rendered, effectively embodying the sentiment that "the eyes are the window to the soul," a phrase often attributed to William Shakespeare. Some eyes are abstract, multicolored, or tie-dye-like patterns, while others are monochromatic. These portraits require close observation to appreciate their curious details. For example, “Lindner,” features pinwheel-patterned eyes: one contains two tiny tent-like pentagons at its center, the other a small gem-like hexagon.

Trellis Tra La La, 2025, acrylic on panel, 9”x 12”

Many works feature spiral-patterned eyes, reflecting Wenzel’s focus on mathematics and geometry, and recalling the retro1960s Spirograph toy. These dreamlike swirling-patterned eyes also evoke the bold, psychedelic aesthetics of the 1960s and 1970s (think acid trips!) Examples include “Snow Pea,’” “Mascara Fresco,” “Mr. "Stripes,” and my favorite, “Trellis Tra La La.” The latter, created in 2025, is an acrylic painting rendered in black and white, depicting a cat with predominantly black, spiral-shaped eyes. The composition includes yellow and teal cubes and intersecting lines, dynamic gestural marks, and pinkish-red circles. 

Wenzel shows creativity in naming these cats as well, using mental health-inspired titles like “Serenity Self-Preservation,” “Depression with Vibes,” and “Delectable Behavior Therapy” (a play on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT). “Serenity Self-Preservation” hints at safeguarding one's mental and emotional well-being to maintain lasting tranquility. This acrylic on panel piece features a finely drawn graphite cat on an ivory background, embodying serenity. Though easy to overlook due to its subtlety, the painting stands out once seen. "Depression with Vibes" alludes to misery with changes in mood, behavior, or disposition. This acrylic and collage painting portrays a black and grey cat set against a muted grey background, highlighted by colorful lines, multi-colored eyes, and vivid paint blobs on its face. The artwork suggests depression but also a sense of radiance. 

Wenzel's titles use intent, psychological themes, and humor—both subtle and direct—to address complex emotions in his art. Titles like “Nicely Niced,” “Chin Scritcher,” “Snow Pea,” and “Late Night Goofus” are witty and engaging. Wenzel slays with “Eye Contact With A Four-Dimensional Cat Through An Infra-Thin Layer.” The titles and Tesser-cats, overall, reflect a blend of intelligence and folly, with titles that aptly match each cat's personality. 

Mascara Fresco, 2023, acrylic and gesso, on panel, 9”x 12”

Wenzel's Tesser-cats explore universal themes related to human experience. The works incorporate playful elements alongside aspects of vulnerability, engaging viewers through neutral expressions that encourage both analysis and general observation. Viewers can choose to overthink or simply enjoy. Wenzel suggests a "cat approach": relax in the moment “especially when there's a nice sun patch to lounge in.” Catch the show before it ends; you might just be chosen by a Tesser-cat!

Wenzel holds a Master of Arts in Art History from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Chicago (UChicago). 

“Tessercats” runs through July 26^th at Watershed Studioworks, 3016 W. Belmont, Chicago. 

Open Saturdays 12 PM to 5 PM and by appointment

Artist talk, Saturday, July 12^th at 3:00 PM