Kenny Scharf

Kenneth R. "Kenny"  Scharf is an American painter, sculptor, and filmmaker notable for his cartoon-like depictions of hyper-populated scenes in his work.

Scharf studied art at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students League of New York. Scharf's first solo show was at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in 1982, and his works have been shown at several international art festivals, including the Whitney Biennial (1985, 1987), Venice Biennale (1984, 1999), and Documenta 8 (1987). His early influences include comic strips, cartoons, and toys.

Kenny Scharf's works are often surrealistic depictions of landscapes filled with cartoon-like people in various states of thought and action. His work has been described as "a cross between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali" by art critics due to his trademark subject matter consisting mainly of fragmented human figures in a state of awry. The common themes in Scharf's work are drugs, sexual activities, and outer space, including a series of paintings from the "Space Angels" period, which were inspired by the promotional artwork for pornographic films. (Artist Website)