NSU Art Museum Spotlights Works by KAWS, FriendsWithYou & More in "Happy!" Exhibition

Fort Lauderdale’s NSU Art Museum is currently hosting a landmark exhibition of decades-spanning works by iconic Post War, Modern, Pop, and today’s leading contemporary artists. The multi-room presentation entitled “Happy!” includes large-scale sculptures, immersive installations, paintings, and more. From early paintings by the late abstractionist Mark Rothko to a life-sized Companion statue by KAWS, the massive show curated by the museum’s director, Bonnie Clearwater, presents a diverse array of coveted pieces that examine themes of sorrow and happiness.

Additional highlights include Kenny Scarf’s immersive Cosmic Cavern installation filled with neon-painted objects that feature his psychedelic cartoon characters, Rob Pruitt’s 132 Rothko-esque colorfield paintings featuring a swarm of smile emojis, as well as Yoko Ono’s A Box of Smile sculpture that reflects the viewer’s smile in its mirror.

“Many of these artists acknowledge that making art is an essential means for them to work out their own trauma and frustrations, and they suggest that art can provide viewers with a sense of well-being that will help them cope with life’s challenges,” said Clearwater in the exhibition statement.

View “Happy!” above and visit the NSU Art Museum’s website for further details. The exhibition is currently on view until July 5, 2020. Artist-duo FriendsWithYou and Pharrell Williams recently paid a visit to the museum to share their creative industry knowledge with over 200 Broward middle school students. Get a glimpse of their discussion in the Instagram post below.

NSU Art Museum
1 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

For more dynamic works of art, NYC’s Sperone Westwater gallery is hosting a new exhibition that spotlights mysterious paintings and sculptures by famed filmmaker David Lynch.