Almine Rech Gallery

12-07-2020: www.alminerech.com/artists/6434-kenny-scharf

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
  • , 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
  • , 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 (b. 1958, United States) is a renowned artist affiliated with the 1980’s East Village Art movement in New York. Alongside his mentor Andy Warhol, and contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, Scharf developed a distinct and uniquely personal artistic style. 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.

Exhibitions

  • Kenny Scharf

    — • New York

News

  • Art Basel - Online Viewing Room


    VIP days: June 17 - 18, 2020
    Public Days: June 19 - 26, 2020

     

    Explore Art Basel Online Viewing Room here!

    Almine Rech presents “Conjunctions”, the second iteration of Art Basel's Online Viewing Room.

    Artists include Karel Appel, Ha Chong-Hyun, George Condo, Genieve Figgis, Günther Förg, Markus Lüpertz, Pablo Picasso, Peter Saul, Kenny Scharf, Vaughn Spann, Vivian Springford, Kim Tschang-Yeul, Zhang Wei and Tom Wesselmann.

    Taken from a major painting series started in the early 1970s by Ha Chong-Huyn, “Conjunction” reflects on how artists can mirror the many overlapping emotions and understandings of our present moment. Today, we are at once dreamers or actors caught in a complex drama. We are susceptible to rumor or present to just observe the simple things, like an expanding orb of color. We are here to play and revere energy and to reflect on our bodies as they pass through love and time.

    Almine Rech will rotate some works during the fair in order to offer a diverse selection.

    For Inquiries, please contact: inquiries@alminerech.com

    Kenny Scharf, Badda Bing!, 2020 - Oil and spray paint on linen with powder coated aluminum frame - 154 x 123,8 x 5,7 cm ; 60 5/8 x 48 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches (framed) / Courtesy of the Artist and Almine Rech - Photo: Joshua White

  • Almine Rech Gallery is pleased to announce the representation of Kenny Scharf.


    Almine Rech is pleased to announce the representation of iconic American artist Kenny Scharf, and his inaugural solo exhibition of new paintings at Almine Rech New York this fall.

    Opening September 10, Kenny Scharf: Dystopian Painting will debut 15 paintings and a sculpture by Scharf, showcasing the energy and depth of his singular artistic practice. The artist’s new body of work reflects his continued immersion in the everyday life of urban society and circumstances of our time, blending quotidian and deeply relevant themes within the framework of his bright, frenetic canvases and enduring optimism.

    Kenny Scharf (b. 1958, United States) is a renowned artist affiliated with the 1980’s East Village Art movement in New York. Alongside his mentor Andy Warhol, and contemporaries Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, Scharf developed a distinct and uniquely personal artistic style. 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.

    Kenny Scharf, ZOOM WAY!, 2020 - Oil and acrylic on linen with powder coated aluminum frame - 60 x 72 in, 152.4 x 182.9 cm / © Kenny Scharf - Courtesy of the Artist and Almine Rech.

Selected press