KENNY SCHARF
BIOGRAPHY
Born 1958 in Los Angeles, CA. Primary residence in Los Angeles, CA.
EDUCATION
1980 B.F.A. School of Visual Arts, New York, NY.
OBJECTIVE
My ambition as a professional artist is to maintain the course that I set 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.
A PARTIAL CHRONOLOGY :
2015
Kenny Scharf : ” Born Again ” Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles , CA.
Kenny Scharf : ” Cosmic Donut Occurrences ” Patricia Low Contemporary , Gstaad , Switzerland
Group Exhibitions:
“She Sells Seashells by the Seashore” Eric Firestone Gallery , East Hampton , NY.
Special Projects:
Installation at the The Rose Bar Gramercy Park Hotel , New York , NY.
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.
” Fun and Games ” : Montalvo Art Center Saratoga, CA.
” Saying Yes to Everything ” : Honor Fraser Gallery Curated by Corrina Peipon Los Angeles CA.
“ LOISADA ” : NY’s Lower East Side in the 80’s Addison Gallery Andover, Massachusetts
” 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.
” Artist Engage The Automobile ” : Pistonhead – Art Basel Miami Beach, Fl.
” Calligraffiti ” Leila Heller Gallery NY. NY.
” Futures Project” Center for the Living Arts Mobile, Al.
” Contemporary Magic ” : A Tarot Deck Art Project ” The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg Fl.
” Virginia MOCA ” : Virginia Beach.
Special Projects:
” Tonywood ” The Wynwood Walls Memorial Garden, Miami.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Whitewall Suite 5000 NY, NY.
” Back To Supersonica ” Spray Painted 1960’s Lockeed Jetstar. Pima Air Museum, AZ.
Installation of “Squirtz” and “Red Scary Guy” at the Standard Hotel at the Highline NY.
” MOBLOBZ ” Monumental Mural on the Historic Center for the Living Arts Mobile , Al.
Mural installation: Kings County Children’s Hospital Brooklyn, NY.
Mural: Davis Bros. Tires. Los Angeles, CA.
2012
Kenny Scharf ” Hodgepodge ” The Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles.
Group Exhibitions:
” Thank You Andy Warhol ” Benrimon Contemporary, NY. NY.
” Times Square Show Revisited ” Leubsdorf Gallery Hunter College NY. NY.
” Portrait of a Generation ” The Hole Gallery NY. NY.
” All For You ” Eric Firestone Gallery East Hampton, NY.
Special Projects:
Kiehl’s label for children’s charity
” Jello Bacchanalia ” Art Rio, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Cedars Sinai Chunk Pack, Cedars Sinai Children’s Wing, Los Angeles, CA.
Mural: Salem, Mass.
Wynwood Walls, Miami, FL.
Mural: Careyes, Mexico.
2011
” Naturafutura ” Paul Kasmin Gallery NY. NY.
Group Exhibitions:
” The Artist Museum ” MOCA Los Angeles.
” Art In The Streets ” MOCA Los Angeles.
” New York Minute ” Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow.
” Facemaker ” Curated by Kathy Grayson Royal-T, Culver City, CA.
” Unfinished Paintings ” Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
” Nose Job ” Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, NY.
” East Village West ” Royal T Lounge Los Angeles. CA.
” 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.
Miami Marlins Arena Mural
WeHo Walls: MOCA Public Library Mural West Hollywood, CA.
Mural Arts Big Picture Project, Philadelphia, Pa.
Brooklyn Children’s Hospital Mural, Brooklyn, NY.
2010
Group Exhibitions:
” Pause ” Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas NV.
” Art Shack ” Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach CA.
” Mutant Pop ” Loyal Gallery, Malmo Sweden
Special Projects:
Bowery Wall Mural
2009
Kenny Scharf “Barberadise” Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions:
” Wynwood Walls ” Outdoor Mural Project produced by Deitch Projects, Art Basel Miami
” Primary Flight ” Site – specific Street Level Mural, Art Basel Miami FL.
” Loveable Like Orphan Kitties and Bastard Children ” Green Gallery, Milwaukee WI
” Just What Are They Saying ” Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans LA.
” Nude Show ” Paul Kasmin Gallery New York, NY.
Special Projects:
” Stages Touring Exhibit ” Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris, France.
Custom bike designed for Lance Armstrong and ridden in the Tour de France
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.
” Totally Rad ” Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, NY.
” American Standard ” Design District, Miami Beach, FL.
” Juxtapose School ” Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach CA.
” 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.
” Art Parade ” King of Parade Jeffrey Deitch New York, NY.
” 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.
” Juxtapose Anniversary ” Copro Nason, Culver City CA.
2005
Kenny Scharf: ” Superpop ” Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, NY.
Kenny Scharf: ” Outer Limits ” Patrick Painter Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Group Exhibitions:
Enjoy By: Bill Farroux, Venice, CA.
2004
Kenny Scharf: ” Groovenian Drawings ” Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
Kenny Scharf: ” Schablobz ” Kenny Schachter/Rove New York, NY.
Kenny Scharf: ” California Grown ” Pasadena Museum of California Art, Los Angeles, CA.
Kenny Scharf: ” Face Value ” Kevin Bruk Gallery, Miami Beach, FL.
Group Exhibitions:
” East Village USA ” New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, NY.
” Beginning Here: 101 Ways ” Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY.
” 100 Artists See Satan ” Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA.
Special Events:
Americans for the Arts Awards Installation, Cipriani’s, New York, NY.
2003
Kenny Scharf: “Nightlight” Patrick Painter Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Kenny Scharf: “Paintings 1990-1997” Cotthem Gallery, Brussels, Belgium.
Group Exhibitions:
“Quest” Vincent Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam The Netherlands
“Splat, Boom, Pow” Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, TX.
“Portraits” Heidi Lee Fine Art, New York, NY.
“Faces and Figures” The Art Museum at Florida International University, Miami, FL.
“Beauty Stripped Bare / LA Black & White” BGH Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
2002
Kenny Scharf: “Muted” Chac Mool Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions:
“Made in the USA 1970-2000” Ludwig Galerie, Oberhausen, Germany
“Pulcherrimae Strade” Installation, Pordenone, Italy.
“Juxtapose Anniversary Show” Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Special Events:
” The Groovenians ” Animated Special aired on Cartoon Network
2001
Kenny Scharf: “Car Nation” UC Fullerton at Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA.
Kenny Scharf: “Portraits” Tony Schafrazi Gallery, New York, NY.
Kenny Scharf: “Hollywood Stars” Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA.
Group Exhibitions:
“Seeing” Interactive Exhibition LACMA LAB, Los Angeles, CA.
“Animations” P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY.
Special Projects:
Permanent Installation of Four, 30′ totems, “Tikitotemoniki”, Pearl Arts District, Portland, OR.
2000
Kenny Scharf: Gagosian Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA.
Kenny Scharf: “Small Paintings & Bronzes” Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York, NY.
Kenny Scharf: “Closet #18” permanent exhibit Young at Art Children’s Museum, Davie, FL.
1999
“Heads, Small Paintings and Closet #16” Galerie Hans Mayer, Berlin, Germany.
Kenny Scharf: “New Sculpture” PICA-Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, OR.
“Heads and Small Paintings” Galerie Hans Mayer, Dusseldorf, Germany.
1998
“Kenny Scharf” Galerie Ramis Barquet, Monterrey, Mexico
“Kenny Scharf” McIntosh Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
“Kenny Scharf” Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
“Kenny Scharf” Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York, NY.
Special Projects:
Comissioned by MOCA San Diego to paint mural “Ultrazoomazipamapopdeluxa” in entrance lobby
Designs line of Manikins for Pucci International
1997
Kenny Scharf: “Pop Surrealist” Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL.
Kenny Scharf: “When Worlds Collide”, curated by Barry Blinderman, Univercity Galleries, Illinoise State
Kenny Scharf: “Kenny Scharf ” Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York, NY.
Kenny Scharf: “Ultraelektrik” Paintings, Sculpture & Customized Appliances, Sony Building, New York NY
Group Exhibitions:
In Your Face Haring, Basquiat & Scharf Leo Malca Fine Art, New York.
Art and Provocation: Images from Rebels Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, Co.
1996
Kenny Scharf: New Work , Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY.
Kenny Scharf : El Mundo de Kenny Scharf Museo de art Contemporaneo de Monterrey, Mexico.
Kenny Scharf: Heads Center for the Fine Arts, Miami.
Kenny Scharf: Galerie 56 Budapest, Hungary.
Group Exhibitions:
New Figuration Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Az.
Hot Off the Press: New Editions Pace Prints, NY
1995
Kenny Scharf: Early Paintings 1975-78 Yoshi Gallery NY. NY.
Kenny Scharf: Galerie Cotthem-Hedwig Van Impe, Knokke Belgium
Kenny Scharf: Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY. NY.
Kenny Scharf: Scharf-O-Rama 1978-1995 Museum of Art, Ft.Lauderdale Fl.
Group Exhibitions:
Altered and Irrational: Selections from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum, NY.
Art, Design and Barbie Liberty Street Gallery, NY.
Recent Acquisitions Bass Museum of Art, Miami Fl.
Art + Architecture,MIAMI, Center for Contemporary Art , Miami.
A New York Time:Selected Drawings from the Eighties Bruce Museum , Greenwich, CT.
1994
Kenny Scharf: Wildlife Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY. NY.
1993
Kenny Scharf: Works on Paper , Galerie Burkhard R Eikelmann , Dusseldorf.
Kenny Scharf: Closet #11, Caf√ © Click, Dusseldorf
Kenny Scharf: Closet # 10 World Gallery Miami, Fl.
Group Exhibitions:
About Nature Cleveland Center for Contemporary Artr, Cleveland, OH.
Art and Environment National Arts Club, NYC.
Extravagant: The Economy of Elegance Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY, Russisches Kulturzentrum, Berlin.
1982-83: Ten Years After Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
1992
Kenny Scharf: Edward Totah Gallery
Kenny Scharf: Galeria Rocca 6, Torino, Italy.
Kenny Scharf: Galeria Seno, Milan.
Group Exhibitions:
1492 Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Monterrey, Mexico.
Variations Gitanes Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris.
Objets Trouves Galerie de Jour, Agnes B. Paris.
Balade de l’Amour Halle de l’Uniondes arts Decoratifs, Palais de Louvre, Paris.
1991
Kenny Scharf : Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY.
Kenny Scharf: Studio Trisorio, Naples, Italy.
Kenny Scharf: AC&T Corporation, Tokyo.
Kenny Scharf: Galerie Hans Mayer, Dusseldorf
Kenny Scharf: Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo
Group Exhibitions:
American Art of the ’80’s Palazzo delle Albere, Trento, Italy.
Closet #9 Queens Museum of Art, Flushing NY.
Just What is it That Makes Todays Home So Different,So Appealing Hyde Collection, NY.
The 1980’s: A Selected View from the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum, NY.
1990
Kenny Scharf: Galerie Beaubourg, Paris.
Group Exhibitions:
The Last Decade: American Artists of the ’80’s Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
1989
Kenny Scharf: Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles.
Group Exhibitions:
Don’t Bungle the Jungle Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
The Studio American Collection Witkacy Theater , Zakopane Poland
1988
Kenny Scharf: Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo.
Group Exhibitions:
Figure a Subject: Revival of Figuration Since 1975 Whitney Museum, NY.
The Weisman Collection California State University, Fullerton Ca. (Traveling Show)
1987
Kenny Scharf: Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
Group Exhibitions:
Comic Iconoclasm Institute of Contemporary Art, London.
1986
Kenny Scharf : Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo.
Group Exhibitions:
An American Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture from 1940 to Present Museum of Art, Ft.Lauderdale.
Homage to Nicolas A. Moufarrage Gabrielle Bryers Gallery, NY.
Picture From the Inner Mind The PalladiumNY,Solway Gallery Cincinatti,Cohn Gallery Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1985
Kenny Scharf : Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
Kenny Scharf: Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich.
Group Exhibitions:
Biennial 1984 Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art, NY.
Drawings Leo Castelli Graphics, NY
Eight Artists/Eight Years/SVA School of Visual Arts, NY.
East Village Artists Holly Solomon Gallery NY.
Investigations Institute of Contemporary Art ,University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia.
Sights For Small Eyes Heckscher Museum, Long Island, NY.
Vernacular Abstraction, Wacoal Art Center, Tokyo.
Art in Action Sogetsu Museum ,Tokyo.
Out of the Ooo Cloud Edith C Blum Art Institute,Bard College Annandale on Hudson NY.
1984
Kenny Scharf: Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
Kenny Scharf: Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles.
Group Exhibitions:
Via New York Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art, Montreal
The Innovative Landscape Holly Solomon Gallery, NY.
New Hand-Painted Dreams: Contemporary Surrealism Barbara Gladstone Gallery, NY.
Arte di Frontiera Galerie d’Arte Moderna Bologna, Italy
Aperto 84 Venice Bienale Venice , Italy.
The Human Condition Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco.
Contemporary Perspectives 1984 Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
New Idioms Robert Fraser Gallery, London.
New Attitudes: Paris/New York Pittsburg Center for the Arts
1983
Kenny Scharf: Tony Shafrazi Gallery, NY.
Kenny Scharf: American Graffiti Gallery, Amsterdam.
Group Exhibitions:
Champions Tony Shafrazi Gallery NY, Fay Gold Gallery Atlanta
Surrealist Show Robert Miller Gallery NY.
Morton G. Neuman Family Collection Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Comic Art Show Whitney Museum of American Art NY.
Back to the U.S.A. Kuntsmuseum Luzern,Luzern Switzerland.
Tendencias en Nueva York Palacio de Cristal, Madrid.
Clocktower Open Studio Show P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, NY.
Bienalle de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
References Palais de Beaux-Arts, Charleroi, Belgium
1982 Kenny Scharf: Fun Gallery, NY.
Group Exhibitions:
Installation Project Room P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY.
1981
Kenny Scharf : National Studio Artists P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
Kenny Scharf : Customized Appliances Club 57, NY.
Kenny Scharf : The Jetsons Fun Gallery, NY.
Group Exhibitions:
Open Studio Show P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY.
The Times Square Show Times Square , New York City
New York, New Wave P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City
Drawing Show Mudd Club, NY.
Beyond Words Mudd Club , NY.
1979
Kenny Scharf : Celebration of the Space Age Club 57, NY.
EXHIBITION CATALOGS
Kenny Scharf: Kolors Paul Kasmin Gallery New York 2013
Kenny Scharf: Hodgepodge Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles 2012
Kenny Scharf: NEW! New Paintings and Carzy Roy Al Paul Kasmin Gallery New York 2007
Kenny Scharf: Superpop. Paul Kasmin Gallery New York 2005
Kenny Scharf: Groovenian Drawings. Foreward by Robert Williams Kantor Gallery Los Angeles 2004
Made in the USA, 1970-2001 Keith Haring, Robert Longo, Kenny Scharf, Bill Beckley Oberhausen Ger. Ludwig Galerie
The Universals. Pucci International New York 1998
Kenny Scharf: Essay by Carter Radcliff and Robert Farris Thompson Interview by Dennis Hopper Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York 1998
Kenny Scharf: Essay by Barry Blinderman, Gregory Bowen, Bill McBride, Ann Magnuson and Robert Farris Thompson,
Normal Illinois University Galleries 1998
In Your Face: Malca Fine Art New York 1997
Kenny Scharf: Pop Surrealist Salvador Dali Museum St. Petersburgh Florida 1997
Pop Art. By Jan de James. London. Phaidon 1996
El Mundo de Kenny Scharf: Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Monterrey Monterrey Mexico 1996
Kenny Scharf: Essay by Louis Grachos. Center for the Fine Arts Miami 1996
Kenny Scharf: Essays by Brooke Adams, Laurence Parmer Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale Florida 1995
Kenny Scharf: Essay by Brooke Adams, Edward Totah Gallery London 1992
Kenny Scharf: Galerie Beauborg Paris 1990
The Last Decade: American Artists of the 80’s. Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York 1990
Phamakon 90 Mukuhari Messe Contemporary Art Exhibition Tokyo 1990
Kenny Scharf: Jungle Book Kyoto Shoin International Company Art Random Kyoto 1989
Kenny Scharf: Three Portfolios AC & T Corp. Tokyo 1989
An American Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture from 1940 to the Present
Fort Lauderdale Florida Museum of Art 1986
Vernacular Abstraction Wacoal Art Center Tokyo 1985
Figuration Libre: France – USA. Paris: Musee d’ art Moderne de la Ville de Paris 1984
New Attitudes: Paris / New York. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 1984
Via New York. Montreal: Musee d ‘Art Contemporain 1984
Reference. Brussels: Palais de Beaux Arrts de Charleroi 1983
Back to the USA : Kuntsmuseum Luzern Luzern Switzerland 1983
Kenny Scharf. Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York 1983
Morton G Neuman Family Collection: Kalamazoo Institute of Art Kalamazoo Michigan 1983
Champions: Tony Shafrazi Gallery New York 1983
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
THE BASS MUSEUM OF ART, MIAMI BEACH
BRANT FOUNDATION, GREENWICH, CONN.
THE DANNHEISER FOUNDATION, NEW YORK CITY
THE BROAD FOUNDATION, LOS ANGELES
GRONIGER MUSEUM, GRONIGER, HOLLAND
THE JEWISH MUSEUM, NEW YORK CITY
LUDWIG MUSEUM, COLOGNE, GERMANY
MIAMI ART MUSEUM, MIAMI, FLORIDA
MUSEO D ARTE CONTEMPORANEO DE MONTERREY, MONTERREY MEXICO
MUSEU DE ARTE MODERNA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LOS ANGELES
NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, BROOKLYN, CONNECTICUT
PASADENA MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA ART
PATERSON MUSEUM, PATERSON, NEW JERSEY
PATRICK LANNAN FOUNDATION, LOS ANGELES
PEARL ARTS FOUNDATION, PORTLAND , OREGON
SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
SOGETSU MUSEUM, TOKYO
STEDELIJK MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, NEW YORK CITY