Kenny Scharf is a pivotal figure in the East Village art scene of the 1980s, emerging alongside contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Born in Los Angeles in 1958, Scharf moved to New York City in the late 1970s to attend the School of Visual Arts, where he quickly immersed himself in the vibrant downtown art and club culture. His distinct style, characterized by bold lines, vibrant colors, and a playful fusion of pop culture references with surrealist elements, rapidly gained recognition. Scharf's work often features his signature "Blips" and "Pop surrealist" imagery, incorporating cartoon characters, space-age motifs, and anthropomorphic objects, reflecting his fascination with television, cartoons, and the atomic age. His aim was to bring art out of elite galleries and into everyday life, making it accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience.

Throughout his career, Scharf has extended his artistic practice beyond traditional canvases, creating immersive installations, "Cosmic Caverns" (blacklight-illuminated rooms), and public art projects. His "Pop Shop" in the 1980s, similar to Haring's, sold affordable art merchandise, further democratizing his work. Scharf's commitment to transforming the mundane into the extraordinary is evident in his "Custom Car" series and his "Cosmic Cavern" party environments, which blurred the lines between art, performance, and social gathering. Continuing to exhibit globally, Kenny Scharf remains an influential artist whose work bridges the gap between high art and popular culture, consistently inviting viewers into his uniquely vibrant and imaginative universe.

​

Kenny Scharf b. 1958
BLIP, 2019
signed, titled and dated '19 (on the reverse)
spray paint on canvas
40 by 40 in.
See the work HERE