Celebrating Keith Haring’s creativity and activism, this fall the AGO welcomes a major exhibition of the late artist’s vast output through more than 120 artworks and archival materials. Known for his use of vibrant color, energetic linework and iconic characters like the barking dog and the radiant baby, Haring’s artwork continues to dissolve barriers between art and life and spread joy.
Making its only Canadian stop at the AGO, Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody aims to give a palpable sense of Keith Haring the artist and person, taking Haring’s journals as a key source for reading his work. Beginning with early student artworks made while Haring was at the School of the Visual Arts in New York, the exhibition shows a young artist finding his voice, developing his artistic vocabulary and experimenting with mediums. A thread throughout is Haring’s activism, from his participation in anti-nuclear and anti-Apartheid demonstrations to his AIDS activism that is featured in the last gallery. The emphasis Haring placed on being in community is also highlighted, including his active social life and participation in the downtown club scene—spaces where he often incorporated his art; his collaborative practice working with other artists, musicians, dancers, and poets from diverse backgrounds; and his frequent work with children.
