Kenny Scharf
Kenny Scharf was born in 1958, in Hollywood, California. The artist received his BFA in 1980 at the School of Visual Arts located in New York City. Scharf’s works consist of popular culture based shows with made up science related backgrounds.
Biography
Kenny Scharf was born in 1958, in Hollywood, California. The artist received his BFA in 1980 at the School of Visual Arts located in New York City. Scharf’s works consist of popular culture based shows with made up science related backgrounds. Scharf uses popular images that he grew up watching, such as the Flintstones and the Jetsons. The reason Scharf uses cartoon images in his art work is to bring popular culture in the fine arts. Scharf wants to see how far he can push the line between high and low art. Scharf to this day is making art work that makes the viewers think about where the line is and how far has the artist pushed it.
“My ambition as a professional artist is to maintain the course that I set nearly 30 years ago by establishing my work in the fields of painting, sculpture, and performance. Every project I undertake is building on my past experiences. My original approach is unchanged; it is a personal challenge to produce the best work possible every time. One very important and guiding principle to my work is to reach out beyond the elitist boundaries of fine art and connect to popular culture through my art.
My personal ambition has always been to live the example. I believe the artist has a social responsibility to engage others in a thought process that ultimately brings art into everyday life thereby enhancing the quality of our experience.” -Kenny Scharf
Exhibitions
2019
Kenny Scharf : “Blue Blood” Totah NY. NY.
Kenny Scharf : “Viva Lo Vivo” After & Again Mexico City
Kenny Scharf : “Universalis” La Nave Salinas Ibiza, Spain
Group Exhibitions: “Beyond The Streets” Brooklyn, NYC
Group Exhibitions: “Fatherhood” Over the Influence Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Summer of ‘82” Curated by Dan Cameron Johannes Vogt NYC.
Special Projects: Bluffs Mural : Playa Vista, Ca.
2018
Kenny Scharf : “Super Pop Universe” Lotte Museum of Art Seoul Korea
Kenny Scharf : “Inner and Outer Space” Leila Heller Gallery Dubai
Kenny Scharf : “Scharftopia” The Far Out World of Kenny Scharf Gustavus College, MN.
Kenny Scharf : “Kenny Scharf” David Klien Gallery Detroit , MI.
Kenny Scharf : “Paradis Perdu” Galerie Enrico Navarra, Paris
Group Exhibitions: “Paper Trail” Allouche Gallery NY NY
Group Exhibitions: “Polarities” Totah NY NY
Group Exhibitions: “Auto didactic the Juxtapose School” Petersen Automotive Museum LA. CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Warhol & Friends New York in the 80’s” Palazzo Albergati Italy
Group Exhibitions: “Dancing Goddesses” Dio Horia Gallery Panahra Square , Mykonos Greece.
Group Exhibitions: “Under One Roof”: Urban Nation Museum for Urban Contemporary Art, Berlin
Group Exhibitions: Donald Baechler, Ross Bleckner, Enoc Perez & Kenny Scharf Inaugural Show Alloche Benais Athens
Group Exhibitions: “Beyond The Streets” Curated by Roger Gastman Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Stand Still: A Still Life Show” Allouche Gallery NY NY
Special Projects: “La Villa UGC” Cannes Mural
Special Projects: “Peanuts Murals” World Wide
Special Projects: Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Mural
Special Projects: Denmark – Freetown Christiania Mural
2017
Kenny Scharf : “Blox and Bax” Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles CA.
Kenny Scharf : “Inner and Outer Space” Jeffrey Deitch New York NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Bombay Beach Biennale“ Curated by Lily Johnson White Salton Sea, CA .
Group Exhibitions: “Animal Farm” Curated by Sadie Laska Brant Foundation Greenwich , CT.
Group Exhibitions: “Fast Forward” Painting from the 1980’s. Whitney Museum of American Art NY NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Club 57” Films, Performance and Art in the East Village 1978-1983 The Museum of Modern Art NYC .
Special Projects: Frieze Fair New York : Spotlight Kenny Scharf NYC .
Special Projects: International Church of Cannabis Denver CO .
2016
Kenny Scharf : ” Kenny Scharf ” Nassau County Museum of Art Roslyn Harbor, NY .
Group Exhibitions: “Around the World in 86 Days” Ludwig Forum Aachen , Aachen Germany
Group Exhibitions: “A Selection of Works of the 80’s” Vito Schnabel Gallery St. Moritz
Group Exhibitions: “Cosmic Connections” David Totah Gallery, NYC
Group Exhibitions: “Piston Head 2 Artist Engage the Automobile” Venus Over Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA .
Group Exhibitions: “Masters: Urban & Street Art” Galerie Laurent Strouk Paris
Group Exhibitions: “The Neon Wilderness Voices from Los Angeles” The Conversation Berlin
Group Exhibitions: “Muse” Galerie Hideout, Paris
Group Exhibitions: “AftermodernisM” Neumann Wolfson Art, Watermilll NY.
Group Exhibitions: “DESIRE” Curated by Diana Widmaier Picasso Gagosian & Deitch Art Basel Miami Beach, FL .
Special Projects: Hammer Projects Lobby Mural Hammer Museum Los Angeles, CA.
2015
Kenny Scharf : “Born Again” Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles, CA.
Kenny Scharf : “SCHOW” Frederic Snitzer Gallery Miami, FL.
Group Exhibitions: “She Sells Seashells by the Seashore” Eric Firestone Gallery East Hampton, NY.
Special Projects: Installation The Rose Bar Gramercy Park Hotel, New York, NY.
Special Projects: Cosmic Cavern # 33 Portland Art Museum Portland, OR.
Special Projects: Hammer Projects Lobby Mural Hammer Museum Los Angeles, CA.
Special Projects: “MALAGA” Permanent Mural Spain
2014
Kenny Scharf : “Pace Face” By Pace Prints NYC
Kenny Scharf : “Kenny Scharf ” Colette, Paris
Group Exhibitions: “Urban Theater” : New York Art in the 1980’s The Modern Art Museum of Ft.Worth, TX.
Group Exhibitions: “Fun and Games” : Montalvo Art Center Saratoga, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Saying Yes to Everything” : Honor Fraser Gallery Curated by Corrina Peipon Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “LOISADA” : NY’s Lower East Side in the 80’s Addison Gallery Andover, MA.
Group Exhibitions: “Appropriate Disruption” : Jacob Lewis Gallery NYC
Special Projects: “COSMIGOGO” Textile design for Louis Vuitton
2013
Kenny Scharf : “Kolors” Paul Kasmin Gallery, NY. NY.
Kenny Scharf : “Amerikulture” Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, NY.
Kenny Scharf : “Pop Renaissance” Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “AREA THE EXHIBITION ” Curated by Jeffrey Deitch, Serge Becker, Eric Goode, Jennifer Goode & Glenn O’Brien . The Hole NYC.
Group Exhibitions: “Artist Engage The Automobile” Pistonhead – Art Basel Miami Beach, Fl.
Group Exhibitions: “Calligraffiti” Leila Heller Gallery NY. NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Futures Project” Center for the Living Arts Mobile, Al.
Group Exhibitions: “Contemporary Magic” Tarot Deck Art Project The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, Fl.
Group Exhibitions: “Virginia MOCA” Virginia Beach, VA.
Special Projects: “Tonywood” The Wynwood Walls Memorial Garden, Miami, FL.
Special Projects: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Whitewall Suite 5000 NY, NY.
Special Projects: “Back To Supersonica” Spray Painted 1960’s Lockeed Jetstar. Pima Air Museum, AZ.
Special Projects: Installation of “Squirtz” and ” Red Scary Guy ” at the Standard Hotel The Highline NY.
Special Projects: “MOBLOBZ” Monumental Mural on the Historic Center for the Living Arts Mobile, Al.
Special Projects: Mural installation Kings County Children’s Hospital Brooklyn, NY.
Special Projects: Mural: Davis Bros . Tires Los Angeles, CA.
2012
Kenny Scharf : “Hodgepodge” The Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Thank You Andy Warhol” Benrimon Contemporary, NY. NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Times Square Show Revisited” Leubsdorf Gallery Hunter College NY. NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Portrait of a Generation” The Hole Gallery NY. NY.
Group Exhibitions: “All For You” Eric Firestone Gallery East Hampton, NY.
Special Projects: “Kiehl’s” for Children’s Charity
Special Projects: “Jello Bacchanalia” Art Rio, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Special Projects: “Chunk Pack” Cedars Sinai Children’s Wing , Los Angeles, CA.
Special Projects: Scharf Mural : Salem, MA .
Special Projects: Wynwood Walls , Miami, FL .
Special Projects: Mural: Careyes , Mexico.
2011
“Naturafutura” Paul Kasmin Gallery NY. NY.
Group Exhibitions: “The Artist Museum” MOCA Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Art In The Streets” MOCA Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “New York Minute” Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow.
Group Exhibitions: “Facemaker” Curated by Kathy Grayson Royal-T, Culver City, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Unfinished Paintings” Contemporary Exhibitions Los Angeles , CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Nose Job” Eric Firestone Gallery East Hampton, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “East Village West” Royal T Lounge Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “From Here to Eternity” Curated by Kenton Parker Scion Installation Space, Culver City, CA.
Special Projects: “East Village West” Curated with Ann Magnuson, Royal T Lounge Los Angeles, CA.
Special Projects: Miami Marlins Arena Mural Miami, FL.
Special Projects: WeHo Walls: MOCA Public Library Mural West Hollywood, CA.
Special Projects: Arts Big Picture Project Philadelphia, PA.
Special Projects: Brooklyn Children’s Hospital Mural Brooklyn, NY.
2010
Group Exhibitions: “Pause” Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas, NV.
Group Exhibitions: “Art Shack” Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Mutant Pop” Loyal Gallery Malmo, Sweden
Special Projects: “Bowery Wall” Mural NYC
2009
Kenny Scharf “Barberadise” Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Wynwood Walls” Outdoor Mural Project produced by Deitch Projects Art Basel Miami, FL.
Group Exhibitions: “Primary Flight” Site – specific Street Level Mural, Art Basel Miami, FL.
Group Exhibitions: “Loveable Like Orphan Kitties and Bastard Children” Green Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Group Exhibitions: “Just What Are They Saying” Jonathan Ferrara Gallery New Orleans, LA.
Group Exhibitions: “Nude Show” Paul Kasmin Gallery New York, NY.
2008
Kenny Scharf: “Superdeluxa” Waddington Gallery, London, UK.
Kenny Scharf : “80’s Back” Seomi & Tuus, Seoul, Korea.
Group Exhibitions: “Four Friends” Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Totally Rad” Paul Kasmin Gallery New York, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “American Standard” Design District Miami Beach, FL.
Group Exhibitions: “Juxtapose School” Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach CA.
Group Exhibitions: “Zero Carat” Jewelry Friedman Benda Gallery New York, NY.
2007
Kenny Scharf: “NEW!” Paul Kasmin Gallery New York, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Four Friends” Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Art Parade” King of Parade Jeffrey Deitch New York, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Big Secret Cache” Angstrom Gallery Los Angeles, CA.
2006
Kenny Scharf “Astro Cumulo Nibus Uber Express” Raleigh Hotel Art Basel Miami Beach, FL.
Group Exhibitions: “Surrealism Then and Now” Paul Kasmin Gallery New York, NY.
Group Exhibitions: “Juxtapose Anniversary” Copro Nason Culver City, CA.
2005
Kenny Scharf: “Superpop” Paul Kasmin Gallery, NY, NY
Kenny Scharf: “Outer Limits” Patrick Painter Inc., Santa Monica, CA
2004
Kenny Scharf: “Groovenian Drawings” Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Kenny Scharf: “Schablobz” Kenny Schachter/Rove, NY, New York
Kenny Scharf: “California Grown” Pasadena Museum of California Art
Kenny Scharf: “Face Value” Kevin Bruk Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
2003
Kenny Scharf: “Nightlight” Patrick Painter Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Kenny Scharf: “Paintings 1990-1997” Cotthem Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2002
Kenny Scharf: Muted Chac Mool Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2001
Kenny Scharf: Car Nation UC Fullerton at Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
Kenny Scharf: Portraits Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY NY
Kenny Scharf: Hollywood Stars Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA
2000
Kenny Scharf: Small Paintings & Bronzes Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York, NY
Kenny Scharf:Blobz Gagosian Gallery Los Angeles, CA
1999
Kenny Scharf: Heads, Small Paintings and Closet #16, Galerie Hans Meyer, Berlin, Germany
Kenny Scharf: : New Sculpture Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, Oregon
Kenny Scharf: Heads and Small paintings, Galerie Hans Meyer, Dusseldorf, Germany
1998
Kenny Scharf: Galerie Ramis Barquet, Monterrey, Mexico
Kenny Scharf: McIntosh Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
Kenny Scharf: Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Kenny Scharf: Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
1997
Kenny Scharf: Pop Surrealist Salvador Dali Museum, St.Petersburg, FL
Kenny Scharf: When Worlds Collide Retrospective curated by Barry Blinderman, Univ. Galleries at Illinois State
Kenny Scharf: Paintings Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York
Kenny Scharf: Ultraelectrik Paintings, Sculpture & Customized appliances, Sony Buliding, NYC
1996
El Mundo de Kenny Scharf an exhibition curated by Dan Cameron opens at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Monterrey, Mexico
1995
Scharf’s drawings are included in A New York Time: Selected Drawings of the Eighties at the Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT
The Fort Lauderdale Museum mounts Scharf-O-Rama Vision
Scharf Shop, Miami Beach and Scharf Schak, New York
Yoshii Gallery, New York exhibits Early Paintings: 1975-1979
Miami’s Center of Fine Arts