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C h a r l i e s c h m i d t
artisT • inventor • keyboarD cat's Father
NASAL CONTORTIONIST •DNA test pilot author • MINISTER
selected clients: FUJI Network •Wonderful Pistachios Starburst Candy • Animal Planet • The VIEW • The Tonight Show • ABC NBC • Fox TV • Honda • American Comedy Awards • Cirque Du Soleil • Government of Belgium • Ab Marabou Chocolate, Sweden
GOOGLE CHROME • DENTSU Agency, Tokyo
licensing & creative services CONTACT
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Charlie Schmidt is a Spokane-based artist renowned for his eclectic, creative career and his role in internet culture as the creator of "Keyboard Cat," one of the earliest viral memes. Born and raised in Spokane, Schmidt graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1969 and later studied fine arts at Nihon Daigaku (Niti Dai University) in Tokyo during the early 1970s, earning a bachelor’s degree. This international stint influenced his diverse artistic pursuits, which span painting, performance art, video art, graphic design, music, sculpture, and invention.
Schmidt’s career took off locally when he worked as an art director at Spokane’s KREM-TV in the mid-1970s, a gig he landed by tucking his long hair under a wig to fit the professional vibe. He went freelance in 1976, allowing him to explore his quirky, boundary-pushing style. His paintings—often large-scale and vivid—capture Spokane landmarks, vintage Kenworth trucks (inspired by his father’s trucking days in the 1940s), portraits, and even memes. These works, available as prints on charlieschmidtart.com, reflect his nostalgic yet playful aesthetic, with some pieces as big as 9x12 feet, painted on canvas or old truck tarps.
His global fame stems from "Keyboard Cat," a video he shot in 1984 featuring his cat Fatso "playing" a keyboard, which he uploaded to YouTube in 2007. It’s racked up over 75 million views, becoming a cultural icon used in ads (like Wonderful Pistachios) and as a comedic "play-off" online. After Fatso, Schmidt continued the legacy with Bento (2010-2018) and Skinny ("Keyboard Cat 3.0"), debuting the latter in 2019 at Spokane’s Street Music Week. This quirky creation even inspired a 2023 documentary, "Keyboard Cat: Anatomy of a Meme," filmed partly during his one-man show at Spokane’s Kolva-Sullivan Gallery.
Beyond the cat, Schmidt’s "Dancing Nose" act—a humorous early-1990s video—won a KXLY contest and earned him three "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" appearances, showcasing his knack for oddball performance art. He’s exhibited locally at venues like Chase Gallery and remains a Spokane fixture, living on the South Hill despite stints in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York. At 72 in 2023, he still paints, mentors young artists, and embraces his self-described "nuts" persona, likening his life to “winning the lottery.” His studio, filled with spray-painted walls and creative chaos, is a testament to his enduring, unconventional spirit.
Schmidt’s career took off locally when he worked as an art director at Spokane’s KREM-TV in the mid-1970s, a gig he landed by tucking his long hair under a wig to fit the professional vibe. He went freelance in 1976, allowing him to explore his quirky, boundary-pushing style. His paintings—often large-scale and vivid—capture Spokane landmarks, vintage Kenworth trucks (inspired by his father’s trucking days in the 1940s), portraits, and even memes. These works, available as prints on charlieschmidtart.com, reflect his nostalgic yet playful aesthetic, with some pieces as big as 9x12 feet, painted on canvas or old truck tarps.
His global fame stems from "Keyboard Cat," a video he shot in 1984 featuring his cat Fatso "playing" a keyboard, which he uploaded to YouTube in 2007. It’s racked up over 75 million views, becoming a cultural icon used in ads (like Wonderful Pistachios) and as a comedic "play-off" online. After Fatso, Schmidt continued the legacy with Bento (2010-2018) and Skinny ("Keyboard Cat 3.0"), debuting the latter in 2019 at Spokane’s Street Music Week. This quirky creation even inspired a 2023 documentary, "Keyboard Cat: Anatomy of a Meme," filmed partly during his one-man show at Spokane’s Kolva-Sullivan Gallery.
Beyond the cat, Schmidt’s "Dancing Nose" act—a humorous early-1990s video—won a KXLY contest and earned him three "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" appearances, showcasing his knack for oddball performance art. He’s exhibited locally at venues like Chase Gallery and remains a Spokane fixture, living on the South Hill despite stints in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York. At 72 in 2023, he still paints, mentors young artists, and embraces his self-described "nuts" persona, likening his life to “winning the lottery.” His studio, filled with spray-painted walls and creative chaos, is a testament to his enduring, unconventional spirit.
Recently Charlie has been doing a livestream on YouTube every weekday morning at 10am Pacific Time. It is called The Art by Charlie Schmidt Show Featuring Keyboard Cat. He reads from one of his published Keyboard Cat books, paints on camera and visits with the actual Keyboard Cat.
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Art school...Tokyo, in the 70's.
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KEYBOARD CATTM
In 1984 I put my cat in a tiny blue shirt and made this video to entertain myself. There was no internet or customer or money. Many years later, the internet and YouTube came along, and I uploaded it in 2007. In 2009 it popped into making Keyboard Cat History. Also see KeyboardCat.com now over 50 million views.
You can't do this on purpose.
In 1984 I put my cat in a tiny blue shirt and made this video to entertain myself. There was no internet or customer or money. Many years later, the internet and YouTube came along, and I uploaded it in 2007. In 2009 it popped into making Keyboard Cat History. Also see KeyboardCat.com now over 50 million views.
You can't do this on purpose.
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1-3-16 Meme Paintings
Painting memes just feels good. They are some of my favorite memes! Prints are for sale at charlieschmidtart.com
Painting memes just feels good. They are some of my favorite memes! Prints are for sale at charlieschmidtart.com
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Dancing Nose
In 1984 I made this Charlie Schmidt's Nose Clip with a friend to ease the boredom and to keep his wife happy because he just bought a bunch of video gear. They eventually got divorced. There was no internet, or YouTube, or customer. A friend and I entered it in a "Funny Video Contest" on local station KXLY. We won first place and got to be on the Noon Show, plus they sent the video to a "Hollywood Producer". Somehow, that landed me in over 20 countries, doing TV Shows and commercials and shows like this Late Night Legend, and international commercials like Duskin Air , in Tokyo. Many years later I found out that we were the only entry in the funny video contest at KXLY! This clip is in the permanent collection at Centre Georges Pompideau Centre in Paris. Traffic Safety PSA for the Government of Belgium, shot in Brussels. You can't do this on purpose. |
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ICONomalies
These paintings are 36 inches square. They are human anomalies that went icon! Acrylic on stretched canvas. Prints are for sale at charlieschmidtart.com
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SUITE JESUS
RECENT PAINTINGS • charlie schmidt
all pieces 48x48", oil on board
They are some of my favorite IMAGES!
Prints are for sale at charlieschmidtart.com
When I was a kid, two of the things that got in the deepest were Jesus (getting to Heaven) and nuclear war, (hell on earth) weekly dress rehearsals for incoming nukes in the Sheridan School basement. We got into fetal position next to the walls and could hear the latrine water. It was dank. Sputnik, astronauts, jets, Heaven, UFO's, fear.
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Studio Full blast every day.
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Starburst & Wonderful Pistachio Commercials!
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kenworths rule!
My dad drove Kenworths starting in the 40's.
I was lucky enough to ride with him when I was a little kid. I was raised on Kenworths. They are the Harley Davidson of trucks for sure. Sometimes Dad would bring home a rig for the weekend and all my friends played in it all day. The cabover with a big sleeper was our favorite.
Recently I have been painting large pictures of old Kenworths. They are big...like 9x12 feet and larger on hemmed, unstretched canvases. I can do them any size to fit your space. The paintings are expressive, nostalgic, and some are even painted on old truck tarps! They would look so cool in conference rooms and service areas. They are easy to ship, beautiful and affordable.
I was lucky enough to ride with him when I was a little kid. I was raised on Kenworths. They are the Harley Davidson of trucks for sure. Sometimes Dad would bring home a rig for the weekend and all my friends played in it all day. The cabover with a big sleeper was our favorite.
Recently I have been painting large pictures of old Kenworths. They are big...like 9x12 feet and larger on hemmed, unstretched canvases. I can do them any size to fit your space. The paintings are expressive, nostalgic, and some are even painted on old truck tarps! They would look so cool in conference rooms and service areas. They are easy to ship, beautiful and affordable.
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Dancing Nose
In 1984 I made this Charlie Schmidt's Nose Clip with a friend to ease the boredom and to keep his wife happy because he just bought a bunch of video gear. They eventually got divorced.
There was no internet, or YouTube, or customer. A friend and I entered it in a "Funny Video Contest" on local station KXLY. We won first place and got to be on the Noon Show, plus they sent the video to a "Hollywood Producer". Somehow, that landed me in over 20 countries, doing TV Shows and commercials and shows like this Late Night Legend, and international commercials like Duskin Air , in Tokyo. Many years later I found out that we were the only entry in the funny video contest at KXLY!
This clip is in the permanent collection at Centre Georges Pompideau Centre in Paris.
Traffic Safety PSA for the Government of Belgium, shot in Brussels.
You can't do this on purpose.
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Bento, our family cat, and I in ads and on billboards for Shelter Pet Project. Creative by J. Walter Thompson, New York and the Ad Council. see ADWEEK article |
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We love Miley Cyrus and Wrecking Ball, so I made this Keyboard Cat version of it. Miley dug it and was inspired by it to make her VMA Awards video! |
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NASAreth 8-5-19 (SOLD)
oil on board, still wet, 24"x24" 
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Cats Steal Cars! Do not leave your keys laying around. I did and it was a big mistake. See video below.
Keyboard Cat on old Chevy door
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SORRY...toy is SOLD OUT!
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Blues Legend Paul Oscher-Keyboard Cat collab video. I got to talk to Paul and hear some of his stories. Totally amazing. Deep American culture at it's coolest. Lucky me! Learn about his book at PaulOscher.com |
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3.14.19
Keyboard Cat 3.0 Meet Skinny!
Keyboard Cat 3.0 Meet Skinny!
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TV dinner I wanted to have a painting like this for a long time and now I do. Just finished. 1-26-16 36x48", acrylic on canvas, deep canvas painted edges.
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9-29-17 KEYBOARD CAT Makes Your Day! -NEW VIDEO-
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Tiniest House In The World debut!
Hybrid fashion - architecture!
...and visit TINIESTHOUSEINTHEWORLD.COM
Hybrid fashion - architecture!
...and visit TINIESTHOUSEINTHEWORLD.COM
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Download Charlie Schmidt's Sticker Pop on the iMessage AppStore - Make your text messages weird again! https://appsto.re/us/SAn0gb.i?app=messages
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Heartfelt version of Havin' My Baby. Hope you enjoy!
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new random musicvideo...love.
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Logo I designed for Myles Kennedy and Joe Brash representing their cool music foundation for young musicians! See at...www.futuresong.org/
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Self Portrait
Before Pshop
I designed and built this self portrait in my garage.
No photoshop. All physical. Coolest haircut I ever had.
Client: Pinnacle Productions.
J Craig Sweat photo.
Before Pshop
I designed and built this self portrait in my garage.
No photoshop. All physical. Coolest haircut I ever had.
Client: Pinnacle Productions.
J Craig Sweat photo.
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Just Have A Nice Day.
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3.27.19
KREM TV News Report
Keyboard Cat Loves Gonzaga!
KREM TV News Report
Keyboard Cat Loves Gonzaga!
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My Other Car! 1939 Chevy Coupe. Balanced 454 BBC. Dual 4's, tunnel ram, 9" rear end. Walker radiator, Comp Cam, roller rockers, steel crank, 3,000 stall converter, Sanderson Headers, Disc brakes.
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Our other
Deluxe Links
tiniesthouseintheworld.com
cheerupamerica.us
cheerupspokane.com
keyboardcatchurch.com
keyboardcatstore.com
keyboardcatfacebook
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