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Almine Rech

Kenny Scharf

Kenny Scharf (b. 1958, United States) is a renowned artist affiliated with the 1980’s East Village Art movement in New York. Scharf developed a distinct and uniquely personal artistic style in paintings as well as sculpture, alongside his mentor Andy Warhol, and contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring with whom he pioneered contemporary street art. References to popular culture reoccur throughout his works, such as appropriated cartoon characters from the Flintstones and Jetsons, as well as imagined anthropomorphic creatures. Through ecstatic compositions and a dazzling color palette, Scharf presents an immersive viewing experience that is both intimate and fresh. Scharf’s multifaceted practice—spanning painting, sculpture, installation work, murals, performance and fashion—reflects his dedication to the creation of dynamic forms of art that deconstruct existing artistic hierarchies, echoing the philosophy of Pop artists. Yet Scharf’s artistic significance expands beyond the art historical terrain of Pop Art; the artist instead coined the term “Pop Surrealist” to describe his one-of-a-kind practice. His inclusion in the 1985 Whitney Biennial marked the start of his international phenomenon, a reputation that continues to thrive today.

Selected artworks

  • Kenny Scharf, Tree Life, 2020

    Kenny Scharf Tree Life, 2020

    Oil, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen with powder coated aluminum frame
    152.4 x 182.9 cm
    60 x 72 in

  • Kenny Scharf, Spin Out, 2020

    Kenny Scharf Spin Out, 2020

    Oil, acrylic and spray paint on linen with powder coated aluminum frame
    228.6 x 177.8 cm
    90 x 70 in

  • Kenny Scharf, Zoom Way!, 2020

    Kenny Scharf Zoom Way!, 2020

    Oil and acrylic on linen with powder coated aluminum frame
    152.4 x 182.9 cm
    60 x 72 in

  • Kenny Scharf, Squirtz, 2013

    Kenny Scharf Squirtz, 2013

    Enamel, spray paint and rhinestones on cast fiberglass
    122.6 x 58.4 x 91.4 cm
    48 1/4 x 23 x 36 in (sculpture, without pedestal)

  • Kenny Scharf, Stellar Float, 2020

    Kenny Scharf Stellar Float, 2020

    Oil and acrylic on linen with powder coated aluminum frame
    152.4 x 121.9 x 5.1 cm
    60 x 48 x 2 in
    60 5/8 x 48 3/4 x 2 1/4 in (framed)

Gallery exhibitions

Museum exhibitions

Selected press

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