Keith Haring 60th Anniversary Special Exhibition: Pop, Music & Street
Organizer: Omotesandō Hills
Special Cooperation: Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
Keith Haring, the legendary street artist born on May 4, 1958, in Pennsylvania, USA, and who passed away at the young age of 31 from AIDS-related complications on February 16, 1990, is celebrated in this special exhibition at Omotesandō Hills on the occasion of his 60th birth anniversary. Omotesandō is the site of a memorable street where Haring created chalk drawings in 1988.
At 20, Haring moved to New York alone and gained fame through his Subway Drawings, chalk graffiti on blank advertising panels in subway stations. His aspiration was to connect with as many people as possible through art. Haring also explored poster art as a visual communication method, creating over 100 posters on themes ranging from nuclear disarmament, anti-apartheid, and AIDS awareness to celebrating National Coming Out Day. His commercial posters included collaborations with brands such as Absolut Vodka and Swatch.
Haring’s belief that “art is for everybody” led him to open the Pop Shop in New York in 1986, selling original goods designed by him. In 1988, he followed it with Pop Shop Tokyo in Aoyama, which caused a sensation in Japan. Haring also left his mark on Omotesandō by drawing with chalk on the pedestrian-only streets, popular for street performances at the time, embodying communication that transcended language.
This exhibition brings together original poster works, rare photographs from his visits to Japan, and record covers that Haring designed for house music, punk rock, and hip-hop. Additionally, a booth reminiscent of the Pop Shop will sell Keith Haring goods gathered from around the world. The messages Haring sent as a social spokesperson in the chaos of 1980s New York continue to resonate powerfully, even 28 years after his passing, in today’s society.
HIGHLIGHTS
1. World Premiere of Rare Photos
Approximately 30 rare photographs of Haring creating chalk drawings on the streets of Omotesandō are exhibited for the first time.
2. Poster and Record Cover Exhibition
Display of 58 original posters created during Haring’s lifetime and 13 record covers he designed.
3. Recreation of the Pop ShopA booth replicating the iconic Pop Shop offers a selection of Keith Haring goods sourced from around the world.
INSTALLATION VIEW
FEATURED ARTWORKS
Documentary Photography, 1988, Photo by ⒸAkira Kishida
National Coming Out Day, 1988
Fill Your Head with Fun! Start Reading!, 1988
Malcolm McLaren, Duck Rock, 1983
