In the studio: Kenny Scharf
In collaboration with Frieze
Moods. Environments. The fun begins. Oil paint. Acrylic. Spray-paint. Silkscreens. Music in the studio sets the rhythm and pace of production. The music is in the painting. The “freedom and flow” is in the painting. The colors in the work represent ambience and create tension. If the work is monochrome, grey, it’s to focus the eye on the image and brushwork. For Scharf, “Colors are emotions.”
— Cedar Lewisohn, writer, artist and curator.
At 66, artist Kenny Scharf is as vivid, colourful and multidirectional as one of his canvases.
In anticipation of his September 2025 exhibition 'Jungle Jungle Jungle' at Almine Rech Brussels, he talks from his huge, plant-filled Los Angeles studio about the tensions that drive his painting.
First finding acclaim in New York in what's known as the Downtown Scene of the 1980s alongside the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, Scharf has always looked further afield for inspiration. The futuristic 1960s LA he grew up in, awash with neon, cars and promises of space travel, is a recurring motif. So is the jungle, inspired by his deep engagement with nature and ecology, his trips to the Brazilian rainforest, and the works of painter Henri Rousseau.
His unique mix of 'utopia and darkness' is seen in these new paintings and their striking interplay of colours. 'It's this combination, Scharf says, 'between the reality and my fantasy.'
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.
