Kenny Scharf | Vilebrequin Men's Swim Shorts

Welcome to Kenny Scharf’s cosmos.

LA-born artist Kenny Scharf found fame on the New York art scene in the 80s. Known for his pop-surrealist paintings, his practice spans painting, sculpture, fashion, video, performance art, and street art. Reaching beyond the boundaries of fine art, his scenes and characters depict a cartoon-like world imbued with vibrant, optimistic colors.

“Part of what I do and what I want to do is I want to bring art into everyday life. If you are confronted by something just walking in the street, that might change your day—it might inspire you.”—Kenny Scharf

After “Faces in Places” and “Multicolour Rainbow Turtles” in 2022, the artist’s youthful universe overlaps with Vilebrequin’s playful DNA once again. His third work, “Mareviva”, colorfully pimps unisex swim trunks and shirts, beach towels, and a kids’ swimsuit. Partnership done in collaboration with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing high-profile artists, photographers, designers and creatives.

NOW EXHIBITING:
MAREVIVA, 2023.

VIEW THE COLLAB

AN “ART-TO-ART“
WITH KENNY SCHARF

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Dive into
Kenny Scharf's
universe

Two men's swim shorts - Vilebrequin x Kenny Scharf

Tortues Rainbow Multicolor Men's Swim Shorts Print - Kenny Scharf

Kenny Scharf's
biography

Kenny Scharf (American, b.1958) is a painter associated with the « Lowbrow » movement, and best known for works inspired by comic books and pop culture. Born in Los Angeles, CA, he studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and became part of the East Village art scene during the 1980s. His early work was strongly influenced by Hanna Barbera cartoons, but he gradually began to transition to biomorphic imagery. In 1985, the Whitney Biennial featured Scharf’s first black light installations. At the end of the 1980s, he began a series of « Glob » paintings, which were inspired by Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism. Scharf’s most recent series of paintings depicts swirls of characters inspired by his concern for ecology but imbued by his natural optimism. He has held solo exhibitions at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Monterrey in Mexico, MoMA PS1 in New York, and the Pasadena Museum of Contemporary Art. He lives and works in Los Angeles.