Once hailed as the “Master of Gothic Angst” by American art critic Edward Leffingwell, New York native Rick Prol returns to Opensea with “The Embrace.” This collection of three NFTs features one of Rick’s most famous characters, the “Cat-O-Puss.” Part cat, part octopus, all cyborg—this fan favorite seems to have his tentacles wrapped around a mysterious woman, begging us to “use our imagination.” Although the subject matter may appear rather seedy, their relationship is intriguingly ambiguous. Violent and tender, hostile yet friendly, they embrace a dynamic that is both unsettling and captivating. Rooted in the punk ethos and influenced by a range of historical references, "The Embrace" captures the essence of Prol's unique artistic vision, blending dark humor with a thought-provoking narrative.
"When I think of these images, they are both tender and a bit scary in a sense. For me there is a certain amount of ESSENTIAL ambiguity as to the two protagonists' relationship. I see it as one of camaraderie or hostility, malevolence or consolation.” -Rick Prol
Shattered windows… Broken Doorways…
Is the Cat O Puss an intruder or an invited guest?
Who’s to say it isn’t his house?
In a windowless room, something sinister seems to be taking place. Or is it?
Broken bottles on the ground may give a clue…
Is it drinks for one or drinks for two?
Shattered windows… Broken Doorways…
Who lives in a place like this?
She looks like she lost a little color somewhere along the way…

Rick Prol was born and raised in New York City where he currently lives and works. He attended Cooper Union College in 1980 and began showing his work publicly in 1982, during the then burgeoning East Village art scene. As art critic Eleanor Heartney writes, “The East Village art scene of the 80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was an icon of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested world somewhere east of First Avenue” (Art in America, 1993)
Prol`s work exemplified and helped define with “anarchical impudence” the more dangerous and harrowing aspects of urban reality with images both horrific and absurd, but always with a touch of humor. Rick Prol currently has two solo exhibitions at Leeahn Gallery in Seoul and Deagu, Korea. And In 2022, he had a solo exhibition at the James Fuentes Gallery in New York.

Rick Prol was born and raised in New York City where he currently lives and works. He attended Cooper Union College in 1980 and began showing his work publicly in 1982, during the then burgeoning East Village art scene. As art critic Eleanor Heartney writes, “The East Village art scene of the 80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was an icon of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested world somewhere east of First Avenue” (Art in America, 1993)
Prol`s work exemplified and helped define with “anarchical impudence” the more dangerous and harrowing aspects of urban reality with images both horrific and absurd, but always with a touch of humor. Rick Prol currently has two solo exhibitions at Leeahn Gallery in Seoul and Deagu, Korea. And In 2022, he had a solo exhibition at the James Fuentes Gallery in New York.
Once hailed as the “Master of Gothic Angst” by American art critic Edward Leffingwell, New York native Rick Prol returns to Opensea with “The Embrace.” This collection of three NFTs features one of Rick’s most famous characters, the “Cat-O-Puss.” Part cat, part octopus, all cyborg—this fan favorite seems to have his tentacles wrapped around a mysterious woman, begging us to “use our imagination.” Although the subject matter may appear rather seedy, their relationship is intriguingly ambiguous. Violent and tender, hostile yet friendly, they embrace a dynamic that is both unsettling and captivating. Rooted in the punk ethos and influenced by a range of historical references, "The Embrace" captures the essence of Prol's unique artistic vision, blending dark humor with a thought-provoking narrative.
"When I think of these images, they are both tender and a bit scary in a sense. For me there is a certain amount of ESSENTIAL ambiguity as to the two protagonists' relationship. I see it as one of camaraderie or hostility, malevolence or consolation.” -Rick Prol
Shattered windows… Broken Doorways…
Is the Cat O Puss an intruder or an invited guest?
Who’s to say it isn’t his house?
In a windowless room, something sinister seems to be taking place. Or is it?
Broken bottles on the ground may give a clue…
Is it drinks for one or drinks for two?
Shattered windows… Broken Doorways…
Who lives in a place like this?
She looks like she lost a little color somewhere along the way…

Rick Prol was born and raised in New York City where he currently lives and works. He attended Cooper Union College in 1980 and began showing his work publicly in 1982, during the then burgeoning East Village art scene. As art critic Eleanor Heartney writes, “The East Village art scene of the 80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was an icon of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested world somewhere east of First Avenue” (Art in America, 1993)
Prol`s work exemplified and helped define with “anarchical impudence” the more dangerous and harrowing aspects of urban reality with images both horrific and absurd, but always with a touch of humor. Rick Prol currently has two solo exhibitions at Leeahn Gallery in Seoul and Deagu, Korea. And In 2022, he had a solo exhibition at the James Fuentes Gallery in New York.

Rick Prol was born and raised in New York City where he currently lives and works. He attended Cooper Union College in 1980 and began showing his work publicly in 1982, during the then burgeoning East Village art scene. As art critic Eleanor Heartney writes, “The East Village art scene of the 80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was an icon of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested world somewhere east of First Avenue” (Art in America, 1993)
Prol`s work exemplified and helped define with “anarchical impudence” the more dangerous and harrowing aspects of urban reality with images both horrific and absurd, but always with a touch of humor. Rick Prol currently has two solo exhibitions at Leeahn Gallery in Seoul and Deagu, Korea. And In 2022, he had a solo exhibition at the James Fuentes Gallery in New York.
Once hailed as the “Master of Gothic Angst” by American art critic Edward Leffingwell, New York native Rick Prol returns to Opensea with “The Embrace.” This collection of three NFTs features one of Rick’s most famous characters, the “Cat-O-Puss.” Part cat, part octopus, all cyborg—this fan favorite seems to have his tentacles wrapped around a mysterious woman, begging us to “use our imagination.” Although the subject matter may appear rather seedy, their relationship is intriguingly ambiguous. Violent and tender, hostile yet friendly, they embrace a dynamic that is both unsettling and captivating. Rooted in the punk ethos and influenced by a range of historical references, "The Embrace" captures the essence of Prol's unique artistic vision, blending dark humor with a thought-provoking narrative.
"When I think of these images, they are both tender and a bit scary in a sense. For me there is a certain amount of ESSENTIAL ambiguity as to the two protagonists' relationship. I see it as one of camaraderie or hostility, malevolence or consolation.” -Rick Prol
Shattered windows… Broken Doorways…
Is the Cat O Puss an intruder or an invited guest?
Who’s to say it isn’t his house?
In a windowless room, something sinister seems to be taking place. Or is it?
Broken bottles on the ground may give a clue…
Is it drinks for one or drinks for two?
Shattered windows… Broken Doorways…
Who lives in a place like this?
She looks like she lost a little color somewhere along the way…

Rick Prol was born and raised in New York City where he currently lives and works. He attended Cooper Union College in 1980 and began showing his work publicly in 1982, during the then burgeoning East Village art scene. As art critic Eleanor Heartney writes, “The East Village art scene of the 80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was an icon of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested world somewhere east of First Avenue” (Art in America, 1993)
Prol`s work exemplified and helped define with “anarchical impudence” the more dangerous and harrowing aspects of urban reality with images both horrific and absurd, but always with a touch of humor. Rick Prol currently has two solo exhibitions at Leeahn Gallery in Seoul and Deagu, Korea. And In 2022, he had a solo exhibition at the James Fuentes Gallery in New York.

Rick Prol was born and raised in New York City where he currently lives and works. He attended Cooper Union College in 1980 and began showing his work publicly in 1982, during the then burgeoning East Village art scene. As art critic Eleanor Heartney writes, “The East Village art scene of the 80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was an icon of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested world somewhere east of First Avenue” (Art in America, 1993)
Prol`s work exemplified and helped define with “anarchical impudence” the more dangerous and harrowing aspects of urban reality with images both horrific and absurd, but always with a touch of humor. Rick Prol currently has two solo exhibitions at Leeahn Gallery in Seoul and Deagu, Korea. And In 2022, he had a solo exhibition at the James Fuentes Gallery in New York.
