SHARP
Aaron Goodstone, American
Born in 1966
In the early 1980s, Sharp and Delta founded the KA crew, “Kings Arrive,” which became prominent on New York City’s subway line 6.
Coming from a Caribbean family and raised in Jewish traditions, Sharp openly acknowledges the influence of this heritage on his art. In Jewish culture, where figurative representation is absent, each letter of the sacred Hebrew alphabet holds a profound meaning. This approach inspires his attraction to abstraction. He began writing as a way to protect himself and escape a difficult and violent social environment. For him, writing is a “radical refuge,” a way to transform his emotions into creative forces to convey messages of social justice or to honor friends he witnessed losing their way.
Sharp’s artistic journey is grounded in the reinvention of the modern Western alphabet. His works explore alphabets such as Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, and Latin, seeking to break free from traditional language frameworks and the conditioning they impose. Sharp is thus the pioneer of an innovative style: “Abstract Techno Symbolism.”
« Where I was born, how I live, how I see. From El-Borinquen, Maravilla, to Saint-Denis. I define my work as abstract techno-symbolism. It’s the evolution of the modern alphabet, conveying messages through abstract images and symbols. I am largely influenced by ancient alphabets, particularly Gothic, Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek, etc., much like the medieval monks who created a stylized alphabet. I believe that my peers and I are defining and constructing a new alphabet through our work. In the early 1980s, my work focused on my name. The form and structure were limited, with the intention being maximum readability. With the East Village movement wave and training in Art History, my style shifted, restructured, and became more abstract. I want to clarify that I firmly believe our movement formed, developed, and matured without external influences, except for comic books. Phase 2, Part, Delta II, Dez were my strongest influences. It was through their vision and determination that my style was forged. Art was and will always remain our crime and our passion. » — Sharp
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011
– Helenbeck Galerie, Changing the game, Nice (France) 2009
– Speerstra Gallery, Magical Radical Renegades, Genève (Suisse)
– Galeria Art-Vall, Decadent aspect of poverty, Andorre
2008
– Avant Garden Gallery Ghetto Bougeois, Milan
2006
– My Own Gallery, Live Painting, Milan (Italie)
– Montana Gallery, Henry Chalfant / Sharp, Barcelone (Espagne)
– Galleria Palazzo,Daze and Sharp, Florence (Italie)
– Nano Universe, Bronx Style, Tōkyō (Japon)
2005
– Speerstra Gallery, Romance of innocence from hence we came, Paris
– Carhartt Paris, Nutricious, Paris
– Sharp-Henry Chalfant, The ex-political factor, Amsterdam
– Mhi, New protocols of the learned elders, London
2003
– Per M Space Gallery, The Debut of Baby got Knots, Tokyo
– Fashion Institute of Technology, Deans Gallery, The Seven Thunders, New York
2002
– Speerstra Gallery, The Reeducation of Sharpy Butterz, Paris
– Mi Art, Prosper, Milan
1998
– Jacs Gallery, Study of Symbolism, Londres 1997
– Brick Lane Gallery, Roots Remembered, Londres
– Galerie L ’Aeronef, Symphony to your fears, Lille 1996
– Oxford Gallery, Projecting the Pain, Oxford
– Ark Gallery, Sharp-Jonone, Tokyo
1995
– Space-Time-Light Gallery, Between Passion there is always Pain, New York
1994
– Espace Mirajes, Post Modern Supermarket of Style, Paris
– Parsec Corporation, Induced Vertigo, Berlin
1993
– Speerstra Gallery / Michel Gillet, From the Gates of the Ghetto, Paris
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
– Nos Fantômes V2, GHOST Galerie Paris, octobre-janvier
– HEY! Le dessin, HALLE SAINT PIERRE 18E, PARIS, FRANCE, JAN 22,2022 – DEC 31,2022 2015
– Hayes + Sharp: Old Decatur, CARNEGIE VISUAL ARTS CENTER DECATUR, ALABAMA, USA, JUN 23,2015 – AUG 01,2015
2010
– Helenbeck Galerie / Jean Gismondi Galerie, Who’s the king, Paris (France)
2009
– Helenbeck Galerie, Whole in the wall, New-York (USA)
– Helenbeck Galerie, Il est interdit d’interdire, Nice (France)
2008
– Helenbeck Galerie / Jean Gismondi Galerie, “Whole in the wall”, Paris (France)
1993
– Space Time Light Gallery, Coming out of the can, New York
– Monde de l ’art, 4 maîtres du Spray, Paris
1992
– Galerie Gleiditch 45, 8 Urban Artists, Berlin
– Galerie Magda Danysz, Urban Art, Paris
– Galerie Michel Vidal, Wanted, Paris
1991
– Musée National des Monuments Français, Artistes américains et français 1981-1991, Paris
– Galerie Black New Arts, Afro-américains et Europe, Paris
1990
– Museum of American Graffiti, New York
– Colin Greco Gallery, Lo-Hi Sho, New York
1988
– Prego, KaDance, Milan 1987
– Franklin Furnace Gallery, Melee, New York
1985
– Nada Gallery, Brute Force, New York
– Cuando, Purgatory, New York
– Basel Art Fair 16, Suisse
1984
– Fun Gallery, Christmas Show, New York
– Ground Zero Gallery, New York
– Limbo Loundge, Sharp and Martin Wong, New York
– Ursula Schurr Gallery, Stuttgart
– Basel Art Fair 15, Suisse
– Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta
– Gallozzi-Laplaca Gallery, New York Graffiti Writers 1972-1984, Abecedary, New York
– First National Museum of Bullshit P.s.1, New York
1983
– Fun Gallery, New York
– Kamikaze Club, Urban Art, New York
– East 7th street Gallery, Under Dog, New York
– Terminal Art Show, New York
2011
– Helenbeck Galerie, Changing the game, Nice (France) 2009
– Speerstra Gallery, Magical Radical Renegades, Genève (Suisse)
– Galeria Art-Vall, Decadent aspect of poverty, Andorre
2008
– Avant Garden Gallery Ghetto Bougeois, Milan
2006
– My Own Gallery, Live Painting, Milan (Italie)
– Montana Gallery, Henry Chalfant / Sharp, Barcelone (Espagne)
– Galleria Palazzo,Daze and Sharp, Florence (Italie)
– Nano Universe, Bronx Style, Tōkyō (Japon)
2005
– Speerstra Gallery, Romance of innocence from hence we came, Paris
– Carhartt Paris, Nutricious, Paris
– Sharp-Henry Chalfant, The ex-political factor, Amsterdam
– Mhi, New protocols of the learned elders, London
2003
– Per M Space Gallery, The Debut of Baby got Knots, Tokyo
– Fashion Institute of Technology, Deans Gallery, The Seven Thunders, New York
2002
– Speerstra Gallery, The Reeducation of Sharpy Butterz, Paris
– Mi Art, Prosper, Milan
1998
– Jacs Gallery, Study of Symbolism, Londres 1997
– Brick Lane Gallery, Roots Remembered, Londres
– Galerie L ’Aeronef, Symphony to your fears, Lille 1996
– Oxford Gallery, Projecting the Pain, Oxford
– Ark Gallery, Sharp-Jonone, Tokyo
1995
– Space-Time-Light Gallery, Between Passion there is always Pain, New York
1994
– Espace Mirajes, Post Modern Supermarket of Style, Paris
– Parsec Corporation, Induced Vertigo, Berlin
1993
– Speerstra Gallery / Michel Gillet, From the Gates of the Ghetto, Paris
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
– Nos Fantômes V2, GHOST Galerie Paris, octobre-janvier
– HEY! Le dessin, HALLE SAINT PIERRE 18E, PARIS, FRANCE, JAN 22,2022 – DEC 31,2022 2015
– Hayes + Sharp: Old Decatur, CARNEGIE VISUAL ARTS CENTER DECATUR, ALABAMA, USA, JUN 23,2015 – AUG 01,2015
2010
– Helenbeck Galerie / Jean Gismondi Galerie, Who’s the king, Paris (France)
2009
– Helenbeck Galerie, Whole in the wall, New-York (USA)
– Helenbeck Galerie, Il est interdit d’interdire, Nice (France)
2008
– Helenbeck Galerie / Jean Gismondi Galerie, “Whole in the wall”, Paris (France)
1993
– Space Time Light Gallery, Coming out of the can, New York
– Monde de l ’art, 4 maîtres du Spray, Paris
1992
– Galerie Gleiditch 45, 8 Urban Artists, Berlin
– Galerie Magda Danysz, Urban Art, Paris
– Galerie Michel Vidal, Wanted, Paris
1991
– Musée National des Monuments Français, Artistes américains et français 1981-1991, Paris
– Galerie Black New Arts, Afro-américains et Europe, Paris
1990
– Museum of American Graffiti, New York
– Colin Greco Gallery, Lo-Hi Sho, New York
1988
– Prego, KaDance, Milan 1987
– Franklin Furnace Gallery, Melee, New York
1985
– Nada Gallery, Brute Force, New York
– Cuando, Purgatory, New York
– Basel Art Fair 16, Suisse
1984
– Fun Gallery, Christmas Show, New York
– Ground Zero Gallery, New York
– Limbo Loundge, Sharp and Martin Wong, New York
– Ursula Schurr Gallery, Stuttgart
– Basel Art Fair 15, Suisse
– Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta
– Gallozzi-Laplaca Gallery, New York Graffiti Writers 1972-1984, Abecedary, New York
– First National Museum of Bullshit P.s.1, New York
1983
– Fun Gallery, New York
– Kamikaze Club, Urban Art, New York
– East 7th street Gallery, Under Dog, New York
– Terminal Art Show, New York
EPOCHAL VISIONS: AN EXHAUSTIVE CHRONICLE OF WORKS BELONGING OR HAVING BELONGED TO THE GALLERY’S COLLECTIONS
