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Kenny Scharf Paintings

American, b. 1958

Kenny Scharf is a renowned artist affiliated with the 1980s-era East Village art movement in New York City.

Scharf developed a distinct and uniquely personal artistic style in paintings and prints as well as sculpture, alongside his mentor Andy Warhol, and contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring with whom he pioneered contemporary street art. References to popular culture reoccur throughout Scharf's 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, he 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.

Find original Kenny Scharf art on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by End to End Gallery)

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Artist: Kenny Scharf
Unique Surfboard
By Kenny Scharf
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Kenny Scharf Title: Unique Surfboard Size: 195.6 x 50.8 x 6.4 cm. (77 x 20 x 2 1/2 in.) Medium: Spray Paint on Surf Board Edition: Unique Original 1 of 12 Year: 2021 Notes: Signed and numbered 'Tim Bessell 1/12 Kenny Scharf' on the reverse. Kenny Scharf is a legendary American artist who was a pioneer in the iconic 1980s East Village street art scene in New York. Together with artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Scharf helped spearhead the aesthetics of the era, co-authoring arguably the most essential chapter in street art history by positioning it as an equal player on the contemporary art world’s main stage. Today, the Californian is widely recognised as one of the most important figures in the ‘Lowbrow Pop Surrealism’ art movement, which is characterised by abstract imagery merging with dreamy cartoon characters, and is rooted in comics, punk music, and graffiti and street culture. Like many other children growing up during Pop Art's cultural boom in the 1960s, Scharf was greatly impacted by images of popular and commercial culture that permeated and shaped American collective consciousness. But, unlike other kids, Scharf's interests went beyond clipping out photographs from magazines to stick on his bedroom wall. Instead, he found joy in finding expression on the streets, where, with a spray paint can in hand, he could share his unique, Day-Glo, psychedelic pictures with the public. In his works, Scharf employs a range of techniques, media and allusions to create hallucinatory compositions bursting with bright colours, bold patterns, and dreamlike metaphors, featuring a host of anthropomorphic creatures, extraterrestrial beings, and comic book motifs. A UNIQUE STATEMENT AGAINST MARINE POLLUTION In 2012, Scharf decided to take his practice one step further by working on a unique partnership with Parley – a group and platform raising awareness about the major threats towards our oceans, which are the most important ecosystem of our planet. As Scharf explained, ‘I am obsessed with plastic in our oceans and I jumped at the chance to do anything with other people that are also sharing that obsession.’ Parley’s Global Cleanup Network has a special focus on protecting the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico where the group have been active since 2017, and where Scharf himself has spent numerous years. Scharf created a small group of only twelve individually painted...
Category

2010s Street Art Kenny Scharf Paintings

Materials

Spray Paint

Val Wong Worm, dazzling, unique signed Painting (framed) with superb provenance
By Kenny Scharf
Located in New York, NY
Kenny Scharf Val Wong Worm, 2006 Oil, acrylic, silkscreen and rhinestones on paper Signed, dated and titled by the artist on the die-cut window on the back Frame Included: elegantly ...
Category

Early 2000s Pop Art Kenny Scharf Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Screen

Kenny Scharf Painting
By Kenny Scharf
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Kenny Scharf (American, b. 1958) Marking(s); notes: signed, marking(s); 1992 Materials: acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas board and recycled wood fr...
Category

1990s Pop Art Kenny Scharf Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic

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Kenny Scharf paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Kenny Scharf paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Kenny Scharf in paint, oil paint, acrylic paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the street art style. Not every interior allows for large Kenny Scharf paintings, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Shepard Fairey, Alec Monopoly, and Alex Reagan. Kenny Scharf paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50,000 and tops out at $135,000, while the average work can sell for $92,500.
Questions About Kenny Scharf Paintings
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Kenny Scharf, who coined the term “Pop Surrealist”, is known for pioneering street art and for his numerous references to pop culture and cartoon characters in his work. His art is exciting and colorful, creating an immersive experience for the viewer. Find original Kenny Scharf art on 1stDibs.

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