Keith Haring: Arching Lines

Jun 07, 2025 (Sat) － May 17, 2026 (Sun)

Organized by Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
Supported by the Embassy of the United States of America, Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education

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This year marks the 35th anniversary of Keith Haring’s passing (1958–1990). His artwork and merchandise continue to inspire, delight, and empower people around the world. In celebration of the newly acquired Untitled (Yellow Arching Figure), this exhibition focuses on Haring’s sculptural works, highlighting his unique aesthetic and philosophy through three-dimensional expression.
Haring began drawing at an early age, influenced by Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss, gradually developing his own symbolic visual language. In 1980, he launched his Subway Drawings in New York City’s underground stations, a project that affirmed his belief in direct communication with the public through art. This approach led him to create murals worldwide, establish the Pop Shop to make his work more accessible, and use art as a platform for social activism. Among his many creative endeavors, the sculpture stands out as a symbol of his commitment to public engagement.
In 1985, Haring began working with Lippincott, a Connecticut-based foundry known for producing sculptures by artists such as Robert Indiana and Donald Judd. This shift was encouraged by Tony Shafrazi, Haring’s gallerist, who asked, “Put your alphabet in the landscape, out there in the real world.” Following his first sculptural presentation at Leo Castelli Gallery, Haring expanded his practice, producing works at a foundry in Germany the following year. In 1987, he participated in the internationally acclaimed Skulptur Projekte Münster, further solidifying his role as a sculptor.
His sculptures transform lines into cut-out forms—sometimes intersecting in structured compositions, other times expanding freely into space—turning their surroundings into places of joy, surprise, and contemplation. Beneath these playful and bold forms lies a deep appreciation for the artistic legacies that shaped him. As his art evolved from line to surface and from surface to structure, Haring’s sculptures serve as a tangible extension of his lifelong dedication to human connection.

“All of the things that you make are a kind of quest for immortality. Because you’re making these things that you know have a different kind of life. They don’t depend on breathing, so they’ll last longer than any of us will. Which is sort of an interesting idea, that it’s sort of extending your life to some degree.”
— Keith Haring, 1988

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