Kenny Scharf at Metropole Monte-Carlo
Monaco
03 July - 31 August 2026

From 3 July to 31 August, Opera Gallery Monaco will present a special showcase dedicated to the acclaimed American artist Kenny Scharf at the Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo. Taking place alongside 'The Monaco Masters Show, American 80s: from Warhol to Basquiat', the presentation highlights one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the vibrant New York art scene of the 1980s.

Born in Los Angeles in 1958 and based in New York, Scharf rose to prominence alongside contemporaries such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Renowned for his exuberant visual language, he developed a singular artistic universe populated by fantastical characters, vivid colours and references drawn from popular culture, science fiction, animation and street art. Over the course of a career spanning more than four decades, Scharf has established himself as a pioneering figure whose work continues to blur the boundaries between fine art and mass culture.

At the centre of the showcase is Orange Bingle Berry Ball Bug (1986), a sculptural work created during a pivotal period in the artist’s career. Combining organic forms with a playful, otherworldly presence, the sculpture exemplifies Scharf’s ability to transform his imagined universe into immersive three-dimensional form. Created at the height of the East Village art movement, the work captures the energy, experimentation and optimism that defined a generation of artists who reshaped contemporary art.

The presentation may also include a selection of Scharf’s pixelated sculptures, including Reddy Guy, Yellangry Guy and Blumama Guy. These vibrant works reinterpret the artist’s iconic characters through a contemporary visual vocabulary inspired by digital imagery, demonstrating the continued evolution of his practice.

Presented within the Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo, in the heart of Monaco’s prestigious Carré d’Or, the showcase forms part of the venue’s ongoing cultural programme.