With the very recent passing of David Lynch “Pop surrealism” seems to have gone fluorescent in the art cognoscenti mass consciousness. and Kenny Scharf’s opus as on display at the Brant foundation study center is a non-stop escapist essay in the quasi-genre. Enter the biggest retrospective of Scharf since a 1995 exhibition in Monterey starting atop the four story rise of this landmark building and one is in full blast off with George, Judy, and Elroy Jetson in a sudden retro space cartoon fantasy vacation
The exhibition is housed in a four-story building that was once a Consolidated Edison power station and later the studio of land artist Walter De Maria. The space is ideal for showcasing Scharf’s large-scale works, which transport viewers to a world of cartoons and what was once considered street art fantasy.
While Scharf’s work may initially seem one-dimensional, it reveals its complexity and depth upon closer inspection. His use of bold colors and artificial versions of sunsets creates a sense of energy and joy that is infectious.
The exhibition also features a stunning array of portraits of downtown and Hollywood scene figures, which Scharf created after moving to Los Angeles in 1999. His famous painting, “When Worlds Collide,” owned by the Whitney Museum, is also on display.
Scharf’s work is often compared to that of his contemporaries, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. However, his unique blend of pop surrealism and cartoon sensibility sets him apart. Stylistically, Scharf draws inspiration from Henri Rousseau and has influenced a younger generation of artists, including Alexis Rockman.
If Scharf’s work has a shortcoming, it is the flatness of some of his paintings. However, this does not detract from the overall impact of his oeuvre, which is nothing short of electric.
Overall, Kenny Scharf’s exhibition at the Brant Foundation Study Center is a must-see for anyone interested in pop surrealism and the art of the 1980s and 1990s and beyond to a collective pop dream vison of the stars,
Brant Foundation, 421 East Sixth Street
Show closes the end of February
