Art Nerd
Brooklyn Neighborhoods

KENNY SCHARF’S COSMIC CAVERN

By Lori Zimmer · · New York

We’re so sad this place is packed up and gone.  If you were lucky enough to be invited to a party at the iconic artist’s East Williamsburg basement, make sure to stick to the Day-Glo dress code. Called the Cosmic Cavern, the space is Kenny Scharf’s neon fantasy come to life, and was quite possibly his largest existing art installtion.

New York’s rave days may be long over, but don’t tell that to Kenny Scharf’s basement. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a party at the iconic artist’s East Williamsburg basement, make sure to stick to the Day-Glo dress code. Called the Cosmic Cavern, the space is Scharf’s neon fantasy come to life, and quite possibly his largest existing art installtion. Hanging from the ceilings, walls and floors are neon colored dolls, toys, kitchen utensils, plastic garbage, and furniture, intermixed with neon murals by Kenny Scharf. The room glows brightly with more black lights than my friend’s 30 year old brother’s room in his parents basement could ever dream of. When guests enter, their faces are painted with Day Glo paint by Kenny himself, letting everyone become one with the Cosmic Cavern. With disco pumping and people dancing, it feels as close to what I imagine New York in the early 80s was. Who: Kenny Scharf What: Cosmic Cavern Where: Undisclosed, East Williamsburg

Hanging from the ceilings, walls and floors were neon colored dolls, toys, kitchen utensils, plastic garbage, and furniture, intermixed with neon murals by Kenny Scharf. The room glowed brightly with more black lights than my friend’s 30 year old brother’s room in his parents basement could ever dream of. When guests entered, their faces were painted with Day Glo paint by Kenny himself, letting everyone become one with the Cosmic Cavern. With disco pumping and people dancing, it felt as close to what I imagine New York in the early 80s was.

New York’s rave days may be long over, but don’t tell that to Kenny Scharf’s basement. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a party at the iconic artist’s East Williamsburg basement, make sure to stick to the Day-Glo dress code. Called the Cosmic Cavern, the space is Scharf’s neon fantasy come to life, and quite possibly his largest existing art installtion. Hanging from the ceilings, walls and floors are neon colored dolls, toys, kitchen utensils, plastic garbage, and furniture, intermixed with neon murals by Kenny Scharf. The room glows brightly with more black lights than my friend’s 30 year old brother’s room in his parents basement could ever dream of. When guests enter, their faces are painted with Day Glo paint by Kenny himself, letting everyone become one with the Cosmic Cavern. With disco pumping and people dancing, it feels as close to what I imagine New York in the early 80s was. Who: Kenny Scharf What: Cosmic Cavern Where: Undisclosed, East Williamsburg

Who: Kenny Scharf

What: Cosmic Cavern

Where: Undisclosed, East Williamsburg

New York’s rave days may be long over, but don’t tell that to Kenny Scharf’s basement. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a party at the iconic artist’s East Williamsburg basement, make sure to stick to the Day-Glo dress code. Called the Cosmic Cavern, the space is Scharf’s neon fantasy come to life, and quite possibly his largest existing art installtion. Hanging from the ceilings, walls and floors are neon colored dolls, toys, kitchen utensils, plastic garbage, and furniture, intermixed with neon murals by Kenny Scharf. The room glows brightly with more black lights than my friend’s 30 year old brother’s room in his parents basement could ever dream of. When guests enter, their faces are painted with Day Glo paint by Kenny himself, letting everyone become one with the Cosmic Cavern. With disco pumping and people dancing, it feels as close to what I imagine New York in the early 80s was. Who: Kenny Scharf What: Cosmic Cavern Where: Undisclosed, East Williamsburg

New York’s rave days may be long over, but don’t tell that to Kenny Scharf’s basement. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a party at the iconic artist’s East Williamsburg basement, make sure to stick to the Day-Glo dress code. Called the Cosmic Cavern, the space is Scharf’s neon fantasy come to life, and quite possibly his largest existing art installtion. Hanging from the ceilings, walls and floors are neon colored dolls, toys, kitchen utensils, plastic garbage, and furniture, intermixed with neon murals by Kenny Scharf. The room glows brightly with more black lights than my friend’s 30 year old brother’s room in his parents basement could ever dream of. When guests enter, their faces are painted with Day Glo paint by Kenny himself, letting everyone become one with the Cosmic Cavern. With disco pumping and people dancing, it feels as close to what I imagine New York in the early 80s was. Who: Kenny Scharf What: Cosmic Cavern Where: Undisclosed, East Williamsburg

1980s new york artart installationcosmic caverneast williamsburgKenny Scharf