Keith Haring, Untitled, 1982. Baked enamel on metal

Keith Haring, Untitled, 1982. Baked enamel on metal, 109.2 × 109.2 cm. Courtesy of The Broad Art Foundation © Keith Haring Foundation. Photo: Douglas M. Parker Studio, Los Angeles

Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody

November 7, 2023 - March 17, 2024 

This exhibition is a benefit for the AGO Community.
Entry is for Members and Annual Pass Holders. Sign up today to see it.

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FREE ANNUAL PASS – 25 AND UNDER

Located on Level 4.

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

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.

Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody is organized by The Broad, Los Angeles.


ARTWORKS FROM THE EXHIBITION

Keith Haring, Red Room. Acrylic on canvas.

Keith Haring, Red Room, 1988. Acrylic on canvas, 243.8 × 454.7 cm. The Broad Art Foundation. © Keith Haring Foundation

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow
Pop art imagery of a red figure bending over backwards and four smaller green figures running over its body.

Keith Haring, Untitled, 1982. Enamel and Dayglo on metal, 182.9 × 228.6 × 3.8 cm. Courtesy Gian Bochsler, Switzerland. © Keith Haring Foundation

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow
Keith Haring, Ignorance=Fear, Silence=Death, 1989.

Keith Haring, Ignorance=Fear, Silence=Death, 1989. ACT UP poster, 61 × 109.2 cm. The Keith Haring Foundation © Keith Haring Foundation

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow
Keith Haring. Untitled, 1981

Keith Haring. Untitled, 1981. Ink on metal, 121.9 × 121.9 cm. Collection of Larry Warsh. © Keith Haring Foundation

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow
Keith Haring and Madonna, "Speed the Plow" Production

Keith Haring, Keith Haring and Madonna, "Speed the Plow" Production, November 28, 1989. Polaroid, 10.8 x 8.25 cm. Courtesy The Keith Haring Foundation. © Keith Haring Foundation.

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow
Keith Haring, Untitled, 1988

Keith Haring, Untitled, 1988, Acrylic on canvas, 304.8 cm diameter. Courtesy The Keith Haring Foundation. © Keith Haring Foundation.

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow
polaroid photo of Keith Haring in a Top Hat [Self-Portrait]

Keith Haring, Keith Haring in a Top Hat [Self-Portrait], January 9, 1989. Polaroid. 10.8 x 8.25 cm. Courtesy The Keith Haring Foundation. © Keith Haring Foundation.

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody - artworks slideshow

BlindSquare Event App

blindsquare


BlindSquare is a free GPS app developed for the blind, deafblind, and partially sighted. The GPS technology will alert your device to each described audio stop, provide text-to-speech for in-gallery room panels and wayfinding directives in this exhibition. You can download the app from the Apple App Store or by using a QR code onsite. iOS compatible only.


PAST EVENTS - USE THIS ONE

Workshops
AGO Friday Nights: Keith Haring Pop-up Art Making Studio
Friday, January 12, 19, 26, 6 pm

Be inspired by Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody, and spend your Friday evenings with us, creating colou

Sold Out
Workshops
Art as Therapy: Inspired by Keith Haring
Saturday, November 18, 10:30 am

Beginning with an exploration of Keith Haring's vibrant colour, energetic linework, and iconic characters, participants will be invited to create large, colourful images together.


Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody catalogue

Exhibtion Catalogue

Lavishly illustrated with essays and reflections by cultural leaders, the exibition catalogue centers on the artist’s activism, the emphasis he placed on community and his egalitarian approach to art and life. The volume is organized chronologically and thematically, emphasizing Haring’s work made with publics in mind such as the subway drawings and murals, his collaborative practice and his unflinching belief that art is essential in making a better world.

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Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody FAQs

How can I access Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody? 

Admission to the exhibition is a benefit of being a part of the AGO Community! Show your AGO Membership, $35 Annual Pass or Free Annual Pass to enter. Sign up in person or online to get access to the AGO Collection and all special exhibitions for twelve months!    

Annual Passes are free for all visitors aged 14-25, and only $35 for visitors aged 25 and over. Children 18 and under can visit free when accompanying an AGO Member or AP holder. Admission for Indigenous Peoples is always free and does not require a Membership or Annual Pass. 

Who is eligible for a free Annual Pass?

Annual Passes are free for visitors ages 14-25 and can be downloaded in person or online.

Is access to Keith Haring: Art Is for Everyone free for Indigenous Peoples? 

Yes. Indigenous Peoples are always free and can access Keith Haring and all special exhibitions with a complimentary Indigenous General Admission ticket. These tickets are available online at tickets.ago.ca/events/General-Admission or in person.

Can I see Keith Haring with my MAP PASS or CANOO pass? 

No. Entry to this exhibition is for AGO Members and Annual Pass holders. The AGO remains among the most affordable culture experiences in the GTA: the Annual Pass is free for visitors aged 14-25, and only $35 for everyone else, and provides access to the AGO Collection and all special exhibitions for twelve months.  

Can I bring my school group to Keith Haring? 

Yes. The AGO offers self-guided tours and art-making studio sessions for students from JK - Grade 12. All visits need to be booked online in advance and fees apply. Visit AGO.ca/school-visits to book your class trip today.

Can TAP members access Keith Haring free?

Yes – membership in the AGO Teachers’ Access Program (TAP) program entitles teachers to individual free admission to Keith Haring: Art Is for Everyone as well as the AGO Collection and all special exhibitions. Visit tickets.ago.ca/events/teacher-access-program for more information. 

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