art carnival ‘luna luna’ travels to new york at the shed with attractions by basquiat and haring

The shed in new york welcomes traveling art carnival luna luna

First Los Angeles, now New York. Luna Luna, dubbed the world’s first traveling art carnival, heads to The Shed, bringing its fun rides and attractions by visionary artists of the 20th century, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, David Hockney, Sonia Delaunay, and more. The cultural institution on 30th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues, has announced its list for the 2024/2025 season. Luna Luna finds its new temporary home in Level 2 Gallery and The McCourt and opens to the public on November 20th, 2024, with a gala and first look the day before.

Kenny Scharf, Painted chair swing ride, Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987, © Kenny Scharf. Licensed by Artestar, New York | all images courtesy of The Shed

Carnival rides and attractions in McCourt space

It has been a tradition for The Shed to install monumental works in its McCourt space. Having Luna Luna and its traveling art carnival attractions flock to the venue for a time then isn’t something to wonder about. Rides such as carousels and swings need extensive space to function and operate, and the cultural institution’s Gallery and McCourt are more than ready to accommodate them. This is The Shed’s chance to introduce the now-revived traveling art carnival to the residents and visitors of New York City, finding its rightful lodging for a short-term stay.

Luna Luna has come back from its dormant life after artist André Heller, his son, and Canadian rapper Drake, whose production company DreamCrew owned parts of the investment, brought the carnival to mainstream. It first opened its fairground in 1987 in Hamburg, Germany, and by some twist of fate, it stayed forgotten in storage in Texas for 36 years after its run. Luna Luna first announced its return in 2022. In December 2023 to be exact, it ran its full blockbuster showing in Los Angeles titled Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy. Since then, it has kept its feet on its toes, with New York City as the next station to swing by.

Keith Haring, Painted carousel, Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987, © Keith Haring Foundation. Licensed by Artestar, New York

Works by Salvador Dalí, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein and more

Once it opens at The Shed on November 20th, 2024, visitors to Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy can experience the revived traveling art carnival. One by one, they can witness the artworks by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Arik Brauer, Salvador Dalí, Sonia Delaunay, Monika GilSing, Keith Haring, André Heller, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and Kenny Scharf. Their designs wrap around the rides and attractions, and to accompany the multidisciplinary, multisensory experience, The Shed will host concerts and activations with performing artists in the same space.

Kenny Scharf, Painted chair swing ride (foreground), and David Hockney, Enchanted Tree (background), 1987, exhibited in Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, Los Angeles, 2024. Kenny Scharf artwork © Kenny Scharf. Licensed by Artestar, New York

Keith Haring, Painted carousel, 1987, exhibited in Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, Los Angeles, 2024. © Keith Haring Foundation. Licensed by Artestar, New York

Manfred Deix, Palace of the Winds, 1987, exhibited in Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, Los Angeles, 2024

Interior: David Hockney, Enchanted Tree, Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. Photo © Sabina Sarnitz

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Painted Ferris wheel with music, Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York