 | This article has an unclear citation style .(December 2025) |
James Dean (born 1957) is an American artist, author, and illustrator best known as the creator of the children's book character Pete the Cat. Since the character's inception in 1999, Dean has illustrated and co-authored over 100 titles, including some at the #1 New York Times sellers. His work has been adapted into an animated series on Amazon Prime Video. [1]
Dean was born in 1957 in Fort Payne, Alabama. Growing up, he was influenced by his father, a self-taught artist. Dean attended Auburn University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1982. Following graduation, he moved to Georgia and began a 15-year career as an engineer for Georgia Power. [2]
In 1997, Dean left his engineering career to pursue painting full-time, initially selling his work at local art festivals throughout the Southeastern United States. [3] In 1999, he adopted a small black kitten from a local animal shelter and named him Pete. Pete became the muse for a series of paintings; Dean notably chose to paint the cat blue to contrast with the "bad luck" superstitions often associated with black cats. [4] By the early 2000s, Dean's "Pete the Cat" paintings became a staple of the Athens, Georgia art scene. He opened his own gallery, Dean Gardens, and his work began to attract a following for its "cool," laid-back aesthetic and vibrant use of color. [5]
In 2006, Dean self-published his first book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat. Two years later, he collaborated with musician and author Eric Litwin on Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. The book became a massive success after being picked up by HarperCollins in 2010. [6]
Dean and Litwin produced four books together before the partnership ended in 2011. Since then, Dean has collaborated with his wife, Kimberly Dean (Author), to write and illustrate the series. The Pete the Cat franchise has sold over 100 million copies worldwide.
In 2017, the character was adapted into an animated series, Pete the Cat, for Amazon Prime Video. Dean serves as a creative consultant and writer for the show, which features the voices of Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, and Jessica Biel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean gained further national recognition for hosting the "Pete the Cat Club" on social media, providing daily drawing lessons and stories for children in isolation. [7]
Dean lives in Savannah, Georgia with his wife and fellow author, Kimberly Dean (Author). He is an advocate for animal rescue and frequently incorporates themes of kindness and optimism into his work. [8]