‘Kenny Scharf’, A Career Spanning Survey at The Brant Foundation
New York
03 December 2024
Kenny Scharf is currently the focus of a major survey at The Brant Foundation in New York. Running from 13 November 2024 to 28 February 2025, the exhibition, titled 'Kenny Scharf’, presents a collection of over 70 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and objects that span the artist's career from the late 1970s onwards. This comprehensive exhibition was co-curated by Peter M. Brant and Tony Shafrazi in close collaboration with the artist himself.
Kenny Scharf's artistic journey began in the late 1970s amidst the dynamic East Village art scene. Alongside his peers such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, he was instrumental in pioneering the street-art movement, developing an artistic language that has remained consistent throughout his career. Mentored by Andy Warhol, Scharf's work reflects the pop artist's influence, particularly in his incorporation of comic book characters and pop culture iconography.
Self-described as a "pop surrealist", the artist utilises diverse techniques and media to create fantastical worlds. His vibrant compositions feature an array of elements including floating doughnuts, cartoon figures, and vivid, often anthropomorphic forms. While his works exude a joyful energy through colour and form, they often contain underlying suggestions of a darker side, such as sharp teeth, reflecting the duality of modern society. Scharf's art consistently mirrors his unique visual universe, drawing inspiration from the world around him.
Scharf's innovative and unconventional artistic approach continues to be a source of inspiration for many contemporary artists. His artistic style is characterised by a unique visual language that draws from his surroundings and experiences. His work successfully blends fine art with popular culture, incorporating elements from Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism, comic books, and Street Art. The ongoing Opara Gallery show, 'Unveiling Masters in the City', in Miami features more of Kenny Scharf's work. His paintings and sculptures have also been featured in the exhibitions 'Transatlantic: Figurations of the 80s' in Paris and 'Muses: The City & The Artist' in New York.
The Brant Foundation, established in 1996, is dedicated to fostering education and appreciation of contemporary art and design. It fulfills this mission by providing access to its collection for scholarly study and examination. The Foundation is known for its comprehensive representation of various artists, showcasing their works from early career stages to recent creations. ‘Kenny Scharf’ is composed from pieces from the Brant collections as well as loans from institutions and private collections, including The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, and The Broad, Los Angeles.
