The man behind the cat is coming to Annapolis.

Artist James Dean paints funny portraits of his cat, Pete. There is one of Pete on a couch in front of Van Gogh's Starry Night. Another is of Pete in a laundry basket. Though Dean is based in Georgia, his paintings of Pete struck a nerve with art lovers in Annapolis.

"I sell gobs of this guy's work every month," said ARTFX gallery owner Meg Evans. "It's crazy."

As a result, an exhibit called Pete the Cat goes up at the gallery Wednesday, and Dean will be at the gallery signing books 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 4-5.

The exhibition opens Wednesday and runs through Aug. 31 at the gallery, 3 Church Circle in Annapolis. There is an opening reception 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 5. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Call 410-990-4540 or go to artfx gallery.org.