‘Sharif Bey: Homecoming,’ to open at the Andy Warhol Museum Friday
Drawing from Pittsburgh-born ceramic artist, sculptor and educator Sharif Bey’s experiences across various creative communities, residencies and partnerships, “Sharif Bey: Homecoming” is opening at the Andy Warhol Museum Friday.
The exhibit celebrates Bey’s return to his hometown and the techniques, connections and insights he brings back with him. Bey creates complex sculptures inspired by modernism, functional pottery and Oceanic and African art. With references to childhood memories of Pittsburgh’s urban landscape, his work provides commentary on identity and home that has multiple interpretations: the physical return to a meaningful place of origin, an introspective journey through personal history and memory and a reconnection with artistic roots and traditions.
Bey’s monumental ceramic sculptures will be shown alongside artwork from The Warhol’s permanent collection by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
“Sharif Bey’s experimentation with new methods and materials culminates in his latest body of work in the exhibition,” said Nicole Dezelon, senior director of learning and public engagement and curator of “Sharif Bey: Homecoming.” “Presenting his work alongside Warhol and Basquiat fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas, highlighting the interplay of personal history within broader cultural narratives and inviting reflection on our own identities and connections to place.”
“I’m excited to become a part of the Pittsburgh landscape in a more intentional way,” said Bey. “I can come back and think about what I have to offer this thriving arts community at this stage of my life and to rediscover what Pittsburgh has to offer me.”
For information on “Sharif Bey: Homecoming” and other events at the Andy Warhol Museum, go online to warhol.org or call 412-237-8300.