Kenny Scharf To Present His Largest Solo Exhibition ‘Emotional’ at MAM Shanghai

by

Summary

  • Kenny Scharft presents his largest solo exhibition Emotional at MAM Shanghai on June 28
  • It features artwork spanning five decades of his career and an immersive “Beach Club” installation
  • The exhibition will run until October 8, 2025

Kenny Scharf’s most extensive solo exhibition yet, titled “Emotional“, has made its debut at Shanghai’s Modern Art Museum (MAM), marking his first appearance in China with an expansive display of over five decades of his work. The exhibition boasts more than 120 multidisciplinary artworks, delving into Scharf’s whimsical yet complex portrayals of emotions, rendered through his bright, cartoonish imagery. Spread across three floors, the show invites visitors to step into Scharf’s creative realm, culminating in the captivating Beach Club installation, a space intended to whisk guests away into Scharf’s West Coast-inspired utopia.

Under the guidance of Shai Baitel, Artistic Director at MAM Shanghai, the exhibit titled “Emotional” showcases Scharf’s unique visual style that seamlessly blends traditional pictographic methods with contemporary emoji aesthetics. Known for his expressive character designs and vibrant arrangements, Scharf’s work delves deeply into the intricacies of human emotions and communication. The exhibition is sectioned off thematically – Anger, Disgust, Fear, Happiness, Sadness, and Awe – providing visitors with an immersive emotional exploration. Upon reflecting on the exhibit, Scharf remarks, “We’ve created a world that unites complex realities and emotions into a single, engaging experience.

The exhibition, Kenny Scharf’s Beach Club, is a remarkable attraction that converts an entire museum floor into a dreamlike getaway inspired by Venice Beach. It merges art, nostalgia, and interactive engagement. Guests can enjoy paddleball matches, old-school surfboards, inflatables, and skateboards, all decorated with Scharf’s distinctive pop-art designs. Five brand new sculptures encircle a modern take on Venice Beach’s famous pink lifeguard tower, acting as the main focus of the installation.

Just beyond the Beach Club lies the exhibition, showcasing some of Scharf’s most renowned works like Facial Illustrations, Cosmic Cavern, and Cosmic Garden, as well as his investigations into sci-fi, animation, and popular culture influences. Artifacts from both The Jetsons and The Flintstones series exhibit his fascination with how technology shapes our society’s evolution. The Pop Apocalypse and Ecological Crisis series reflect themes of environmental awareness and surrealist pop art. Completing the collection, Scharf’s Art Cars, inspired by hippie culture and the free-spirited ’70s, bring an unconventional mobile aspect to his work.

Opening on June 28, Kenny Scharf’s Emotional will run until October 8, 2025, at MAM Shanghai.

MAM Shanghai
4777 Binjiang Avenue
Pudong New Area, Shanghai
China, 200120

Read More

2025-06-02 10:56