Kenny Scharf

In the 1980’s, Kenny Scharf was a forerunner of the contemporary art scene along side his contemporaries Keith Haring and Jean Michael Basquiat. His work exemplifies a combination of pop imagery with a cosmic underpinning. Thematically he approaches the distinction between the surreal world of pop culture and the human psyche, which in reality is connected to an ever-changing universe. Sharf describes his work as “Pop Surrealism” utilizing fantasy and humor in his exploration of American society.

Sharf is an artist with an extraordinary versatility. He has worked within the bounds of traditional media, as well as designed Zippo Lighters, watches, cell phones, carpets, lifeguard stands, and carnival carousels. The diversity of his range of mediums as well as the function of each shows how Sharf not only explores pop culture and surrealism in his imagery, but also in the medium in which he chooses to utilize.

His work is in several public collections including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Eli Broad Foundation in Los Angeles, and the Sogetsu Museum in Tokyo.

Images courtesy of Graphicstudio/USF