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By: Lieba Nesis
He is the only artist with one foot in the penthouse and the other in the gutter,” said longtime friend and fellow artist Oliver Sanchez about renowned American painter and street artist Kenny Scharf. Oliver and his wife Min met Scharf in the late 1970’s in the East Village’s Polish National Church on St. Mark’s Place. The underground group entitled Club 57 was “the club” for performance and visual artists and musicians including Keith Haring, Basquiat, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Peter Kwaloff and Kenny Scharf. These were the “it kids” many of whose star has since fallen-unlike Scharf who continues to produce groundbreaking work heralded by the top collectors in the world.
The kickoff to the Norton Museum’s Sunday gala was held on Thursday February 1st at 7:30 PM at 1450 South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Palm Beach’s exploding art scene peaked during the large migration of wealth that began with the Covid pandemic and has only gained steamed since. As median Palm Beach home sales prices reach an astounding $14 million with more than 57 billionaires seeking refuge on the Island galleries have taken notice. Sotheby’s Royal Poinciana shop has sold nearly a billion dollars worth of art as residents and avid art collectors such as Dave Tepper and Leonard Lauder abound.
The evening’s “ArtBeat” themed evening contained cocktails, a light dinner and music to celebrate the artists who would be participating in the Auction scheduled to take place on February 3rd-the night of the Norton Museum of Art Gala. Guests such as whiskey connoisseur Julie Macklowe from Macklowe whiskey and New York socialites Mia Rowe and Jean Shafiroff were excitedly anticipating Kenny Scharf’s live painting of a 1989 Rolls Royce donated by Beth Rudin DeWoody for the last installment of Scharf’s long running series KARBOMBZ! in which over 300 cars have been spray painted for free by Scharf. One less Rolls Royce on the streets of Palm Beach definitely won’t be missed.
The 65-year-old Scharf’s legendary career began in California where he was raised before moving to Manhattan to receive a BFA in painting from the School of Visual Arts in 1980. Soon after he began his trademark Cosmic Caverns, immersive black light and Day-Glo paint installations while simultaneously being discovered by renowned gallerist Tony Shafrazi who helped cultivate his audience. Featured at the Whitney Museum, the Bass Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, The Jewish Museum, the Ludwig Museum in Germany and dozens of others Scharf’s star continues to rise with his 2022 “City of the Future” work selling at Bonham’s New York for a record-breaking $983,175.
Art giants Tony Shafrazi and Jeffrey Deitch trekked to Palm Beach to celebrate the icon’s career. Kenny’s traditional Ashkenazi Jewish upbringing gave rise to the iconoclastic Scharf who eschews all forms of religion while acknowledging his Jewish ancestry has surreptitiously influenced his pieces. Known for spray painting Hanna-Barbera-inspired cartoons he was the ultimate contemporary artist during the reign of Warhol, Haring and Basquiat in the 80’s.
As Miami developer Tony Goldman’s favorite artist Scharf was commissioned to paint murals in Brooklyn and Miami where Scharf designed the memorial garden for Goldman in Wynwood accompanied by paintings and a fountain all paying tribute to their iconic friendship. Scharf has also successfully partnered with Dior and Movado where a Scharf-Dior baseball cap currently retails for $970. Tonight’s Scharf’s laid back fashion vibe was effortlessly showcased in his head-to-toe Dior ensemble. With three grandkids and a longstanding marriage this one-time rebel has toned down a bit as his blue chip pieces are sought after by a more mainstream audience. Scharf completed the Rolls Royce donning a heavy mask to shield him from the noxious paint fumes-a move that would have been an anathema to the formerly rebellious 25-year-old.
