Thirty years have already gone by since the passing of Keith Haring, who prematurely died aged only 31.
Considered as one of the fathers of the 1980s’ pop art and culture, the gifted American artist is counted among the most influential players in contemporary art.
Last June, the liveliness of his work was celebrated with an unprecedented exhibition at Liverpool’s Tate. Having moved to the Bozar-Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels after November 10, where it’s running until April 19, 2020, the exhibition will later be on display at the Museum Folkwang in Essen, from May 22 to September 20, 2020.
With over 85 showcased pieces ranging from large-sized drawings to paintings, the show virtually retraces Keith Haring’s dazzling career and powerful expression as he often tackled universal social issues, thus proving capable of telling the complexities and turmoil of a whole age.
Archive files, installations, videos and photographs, all now released for the first time, contribute to a comprehensive, compelling narrative of his life, plunging visitors into a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
The exhibit also covers the extraordinary collaborations that marked Keith Haring’s career: Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Vivienne Westwood, even Madonna and Grace Jones. An outstanding outcome, capturing a vibrant snapshot of the artist’s life while bringing back the Big Apple’s cultural vibes and elegance of the ‘80s, where Haring’s role was key.
Keith Haring made art popular by taking to the streets and closer to the people what was once the preserve of a few.
An art that may be described as ultimately ‘social’ in today’s sense, born of the same spirit that shaped his signature trait: stylized silhouettes inspired by parietal art, the forefather of a universal language, which makes Haring’s work incredibly contemporary.
