About the Curator’s Selection

In celebration of its 5th anniversary in 2012, the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection presents the Curator’s Selection, a series of exhibitions curated by the museum’s team to explore Keith Haring’s work from diverse perspectives.

“A lot of my inspiration was coming out of watching break-dancers, so my drawings started spinning on their heads and twisting and turning all around. The work directly referenced hip-hop culture.”

— Keith Haring

In early 1980s New York, during the height of rap music, breakdancing, and graffiti, Keith Haring found inspiration in the vibrant street culture. He immersed himself in the energy of parties hosted by Fab 5 Freddy and Futura in their studio, where Rock Steady Crew danced to the rhythm of hand claps in the absence of music. Haring channeled this vitality into his Subway Drawings and early works, capturing the pulse of the streets.

This legacy has transcended generations, evolving with the youth who embody the spirit of the present. B-BOY on Sky Court features Takaoka Obata, a sculptor whose wooden sculptures pay homage to breakdancing, reinterpreting it through the lens of Japanese craftsmanship. “Wood carving is inherently Japanese,” says Obata, whose work reflects a uniquely Japanese B-BOY aesthetic.

The exhibition also showcases related works by Haring, including posters from his 1983 Fun Gallery exhibition, where he filled the gallery with graffiti, and the 1984 poster for the Roxy NYC World Breakdance Championship, which featured breakdancers as a central motif.

Enjoy this cross-generational collaboration between Keith Haring, who passed away at the age of 31 in 1990, and Takaoka Obata, a 31-year-old artist embodying the spirit of 2012.