Painter, muralist, sculptor, and performative artist Kenny Sharf has been adorning the streets and museums of L.A. and N.Y.C. with his work since the 70’s.
The 60-year old artist has kept following the same guiding principle throughout the 30 years of his career – reaching beyond the elitist boundaries of fine art, so that he can connect to popular culture, i.e. the people, through his art.
Sharf got his B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Being surrounded by academic artists doesn’t necessarily make you an elitist, but it calls for more introspection.
Sharf’s work has inspired generations of street artists. The smiley-like faces he spray-paints on walls or on canvases have become a recognizable feature in pop art today, as have his colorful, cartoonish depictions of the natural world.
Scroll down to check out his work:
