Kenny Scharf is an American painter and iconic street artist whose inimitable graffiti paintings gained him notoriety and fame in the New York downtown art scene of the 1980s. His work regularly features stylized aliens and popular culture icons in tessellated, colorful patterns, creating a distinctive visual language that bridges fine art and street culture.

Born in Los Angeles in 1958, Scharf completed his BFA in painting at the School of Visual Arts in 1980 and has maintained a New York-based practice ever since. During the vibrant 1980s downtown scene, he befriended such luminaries as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, becoming part of a generation that redefined contemporary art. His work gained widespread institutional recognition, including his inclusion in the prestigious 1985 Whitney Biennial.

Often painting improvisationally, Scharf's playful, gestural murals bring art into everyday life, confronting passersby with bursts of color and imagination. "Part of what I do and what I want to do is I want to bring art into the everyday life," the artist has said of his street practice. "If you're just walking in the street and you're confronted by something, that might change your day—it might inspire you." Many of his vibrant murals still adorn New York streets today. His work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at major institutions including the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Miami Center for the Fine Arts, and the Queens Museum of Art. As a featured artist at Wynwood Walls from 2009 to 2021, Scharf has brought his cosmic, colorful vision to Miami's streets.