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Inside of Bunker Projects I Love Furry art exhibit -Photo by Kamen

As the city of Pittsburgh readied itself to welcome back Anthrocon, a small art gallery on Penn Avenue had viewers asking, “Why do they love furry?”

From June 5th to July 19th, nonprofit artist residency and gallery Bunker Projects hosted their second monumental furry art exhibition I LOVE FURRY. The gallery was created by Portland-based artist Tommy Bruce and involved asking furries in the fandom to submit photos, artwork, and stories about what they love about the community.

Bruce has been making art about the furry community and furry identity since 2010, and this is the second time his furry artwork has been featured in Bunker projects. Last year, he was featured among 60 other furry artists in an exhibit called “Room Party,” the first ever large-scale group exhibit of contemporary furry art. “Room Party” was featured at Bunker Projects last year from June 6th to July 20th, 2025, also meant to coincide with Anthrocon.

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Exterior of the David Lawrence Convention Center displaying the Anthrocon flag -Photo by Kamen

In 2006, the Anthrocon Board of Directors voted to move the convention from Philadelphia to the David Lawrence convention center and Westin in Pittsburgh. This was the start of a relationship that culminated in twenty thousand attendees celebrating 20 years of Anthrocon.

Anthrocon took place in Pittsburgh from July 2nd to July 5th with the theme of “Critters, Cryptids, and Curses,” while also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the convention taking place in the steel city. To honor this occasion, Pittsburgh mayor Corey O’Conner came to the organizers of the convention to declare the day “Anthrocon Day.” This was an unexpected gift to the convention, which involved visiting the organizers on July 1st, and the county executive Sara Innamorato congratulating the convention for contributing 169 million dollars into the Pittsburgh economy for the past 20 years.

For 20 years Anthrocon has had a special relation with its host city as it is symbiotic: Anthrocon gets to call the city its host while the city of Pittsburgh generates revenue from attendees.

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Anthrocon’s 18th year being held in Pittsburgh is in full swing, and on Wednesday the Mayor of Pittsburgh commemorated the occasion by proclaiming that day as “Anthrocon Day”. The convention started to be held in the city 20 years ago, in 2006, which was the catalyst for the celebration. Since then, Anthrocon has held its annual furry convention around June and July in the city, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 having been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The art gallery Bunker Projects in Pittsburgh, located three miles from Anthrocon's events, is currently hosting a furry exhibit. Co-curated by Brett Hanover who directed the documentary film Rukus, this exhibition is called Room Party: Furry Art at the Beginning of the World in celebration of the unofficial gatherings of furries that occur during conventions, typically where art exchanges and sketching would occur.

More information on the list of artists being exhibited can be found here. While there will be special events during Anthrocon weekend, the exhibit will be available until July 20th during their normal Thursday and Sunday open gallery hours. These events are not run by Anthrocon themselves, but by Bunker Projects.

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A non-furry organization is asking the fandom to have a fursuit creator design a pair of costumes in time for Anthrocon 2020. This will be a commission for their cat mascot "Fiddlesticks". This feline character is used by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in order to inspire children with the beauty of music. They are looking for a pair of suits (copies) that can fit multiple performers. One will be for travel, while the other will be a home body suit. They'd also like to be able to accessorize, such as adding a suit jacket.

Those fursuit creators interested can find more information and apply using this Google Form. So if you are a fursuit designer in search of work, be sure to fill out their application. If you know one, forward them the form to fill out.

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When Anthrocon started in Albany in 1997, the humble gathering went by the name of “Albany Anthrocon”. Two years later the convention found itself moving out of New York State and into Pennsylvania. Through that was learned the first major mistake a fledgling convention could make. Naming your new convention after the city it is hosted in is like someone getting their lover’s name tattooed to their arm. Ironically, it’s a mistake that other conventions still make to this day.
 
But living through mistakes is what makes one stronger in the end. It has now been about one decade since the largest furry convention had made its home in Pittsburgh. At this point I think it’s a much safer bet to commit to being inked.
 
As there were 6,389 recorded attendees to this convention, there are just as many stories and perspectives on the convention. So this review will focus on three sections I focused my experiences around: fursuiting, performances, and writing. It is essential to note that reviewing a convention is unlike reviewing any other medium where you can experience a full package. Many panels run concurrently so one has to make a choice, usually based upon one’s preferences.
 

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Jerry Beck on the Cartoon Research website has posted news that in April, animator Paul Terry and his Mighty Mouse were among this year’s inductees added to the New Rochelle (New York) Walk of Fame, just outside of the town’s central Public Library.

The plaque emphasizes Mighty Mouse (who is a lot more famous than Paul Terry). A past honoree is Walter Lantz, the third animator of Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit and creator of Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda, Homer Pigeon, and many other cartoon animals. Terry and Lantz have a connection to New Rochelle; Lantz was born there, and Terry’s studio was there.

But this raises the point of two recent Furry Halls of Fame: the AUSFA-administered Furry Hall of Fame, for notables of Furry fandom like Steve Gallacci, Stan Sakai, Anthrocon, and Sofawolf Press; and the ALAA’s Hall of Fame, for notables that have led to Furry fandom like Bugs Bunny, Walt Disney, and the novel Watership Down. All that they get are an attractive trophy or a certificate. What if there could be a real Furry Walk of Fame somewhere?

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Pittsburgh's appreciation for Anthrocon was proudly advertised on the active block of shops, restaurants and bars by the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Many had windows and signs marked with "Welcome furries!", cartoon foxes, and Furry-themed specials. Hanlon's, next to Fernando's even served breakfast in souvenir dog bowls. (Yum!)

Occasional identity confusion came from the fursuits and furry names - it's a reason for badges, and nothing to be embarrassed about. This can lead to benignly playful and revealing situations. The latter happened on an airport shuttle.

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This year Anthrocon got pushed into Father's day weekend to make way for the NHL Draft as opposed to its traditional timing of the last Sunday of June. Now it would appear that furry is returning the favor and encroaching on the NHL.

When asked about taking on the Penguins in the quarter-final playoffs, Ilya Bryzgalov, the goalie of the rival Philadelphia Flyers, said:

You know, I'm not afraid of anything. I am afraid of bear, but bear is in the forest.

Being a city that is no stranger to animal costuming, the response of "about 70" Pittsburgh fans was to don bear costumes to taunt and perhaps take advantage of Ilya's ursaphobia.

Although the tactic appeared to be having an effect at the start, the Flyers seemed to overcome their fears, and now hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the playoff series.