Kenny Scharf To Present His ‘Emotional’ Solo Exhibition at MAM Shanghai

Summary

• Kenny Scharft presents his solo exhibition Emotional at MAM Shanghai on June 29
• It features artwork spanning decades of his career and an immersive “Beach Club” installation
• The exhibition will run until October 8, 2025

Kenny Scharf’s latest solo exhibition, Emotional, is set to unveil at Modern Art Museum (MAM) Shanghai, featuring a sweeping showcase that spans decades of work. Featuring more than 120 multidisciplinary pieces, the exhibition explores Scharf’s playful yet intricate depictions of emotion, expressed through his vivid, cartoonish iconography. Spanning three floors, the show invites visitors into Scharf’s world, culminating in the immersive Beach Club installation, a space designed to transport guests into the artist’s West Coast-inspired utopia.

Curated by Shai Baitel, Artistic Director of MAM Shanghai, Emotional highlights Scharf’s distinctive visual language, merging ancient pictographic traditions with modern emoji culture. His work, characterized by exaggerated facial expressions and dynamic compositions, has long examined the complexity of human emotion and communication. Organized into thematic sections – Anger, Disgust, Fear, Happiness, Sadness and Awe – the exhibition offers audiences an interactive emotional journey. Reflecting on the exhibition, Scharf shares, “I am honored and excited for this opportunity to show my work in such a large format and scale at MAM Shanghai for my first museum show in China.”

A standout section of the exhibition, Kenny Scharf’s Beach Club, transforms an entire museum floor into a Miami Beach-inspired escape, blending art, nostalgia with immersive interaction. Visitors can experience paddleball games, vintage surfboards, inflatables and skateboards, all adorned with Scharf’s signature pop-art motifs. Five newly created sculptures surround a reinterpretation of Venice Beach’s iconic pink lifeguard tower, serving as the installation’s centerpiece.

Opening on June 29, Kenny Scharf’s Emotional will run until October 8, 2025, at MAM Shanghai.

MAM Shanghai
4777 Binjiang Avenue
Pudong New Area, Shanghai
China, 200120