Keith Haring: Against All Odds
Akron Art Museum
April 15 - September 24, 2023
Untitled, 1982
Acrylic on vinyl tarpaulin
180 x 180 in. (4750 x 4570 cm)
Collection of the Rubell Museum
Keith Haring artwork copyright © Keith Haring Foundation
Untitled, 1984
Ink on leather
35 x 42 in. (89 x 106.7 cm)
Collection of the Rubell Museum
Keith Haring artwork copyright © Keith Haring Foundation
Untitled, 1982
Acrylic and ink on fiberboard
Collection of the Rubell Museum.
Keith Haring artwork copyright © Keith Haring Foundation
The Akron Art Museum presents Keith Haring: Against All Odds. Organized by the Rubell Museum and the Akron Art Museum, this show provides a sweeping overview of the height of Keith Haring’s career and includes more than 110 original objects made between 1981 and 1990. The Rubell Museum holds one of the largest private Keith Haring collections in the world. Many of the works that are on view at the Akron Art Museum were acquired by the Rubell Museum shortly after Keith Haring created them and around the same time as they were first presented publicly.
Keith Haring’s career in art took off through chalk drawings in New York City subway stations and, during the 1980s, exploded into paintings, drawings, large-scale murals, fashion, and pop culture. The artist channeled his newfound popularity and his signature style of bold and energetic outlines into expressions of love and positivity. He also used his art to make political statements against war, environmental destruction, racism, and more, and to advocate for gay rights and AIDS awareness.
“The exhibition [...] highlights Haring’s commitments to art and politics, as well as his relationships with artistic peers like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. We are looking forward to sharing Keith Haring’s work, his ideas, and his personality with our visitors,” said Jeff Katzin, Ph.D., Curator for the Akron Art Museum.
In 1986, Keith Haring opened his Pop Shop in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood selling shirts, posters, and other items to break down barriers between fine art and broad audiences. While many artists shy away from commercial enterprises, Haring was committed to making his art more accessible. The Museum have an area that has been hand-painted by local artist Ron Copeland in the style of Keith Haring’s Pop Shop, providing an exciting, immersive environment for reflection, education, and programs.
Keith Haring’s monumental painting of two figures dancing around a heart and his Statue of Liberty sculpture created with Angel Ortiz will be on view through May 14. After their limited time at the Akron Art Museum, they will head to the West Coast to join a traveling exhibition. These two works were part of Keith Haring’s debut exhibition at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York City in 1982. This was his first show at a commercial gallery, and the success of the exhibition cemented his place in the world of fine art. Two additional works, courtesy of the Keith Haring Foundation, will be on view starting May 16.
“We are honored to be showcasing Keith Haring’s work on a grand scale here in Akron. His unique imagery is immediately recognizable around the globe, even for those who are not familiar with his story,” remarked Executive Director and CEO Jon Fiume.
AKRON ART MUSEUM - AAM
1 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308
