“Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody” at the Walker Art Center

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, came on our radar as a “coolest museum” and one of the best contemporary art museums in the country.

Given that it has no permanent exhibits and only shows rotating exhibits, I don’t know how it earned either of those monikers, as how great it is depends on what is on display at any given time.

Day-Glo paintings, both untitled and from 1982.

*Red Room*, 1988. This references specific works by Henri Matisse; the reclining woman and bowl of goldfish were recurring themes in Matisse’s work.

During our visit, a few of the galleries were closed and a few others were of little interest, but a huge space was dedicated to Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody. I’m not especially a Haring (1958 – 1990) fan, but I can say that about most contemporary art. Doug, on the other hand, was in New York city during Haring’s heyday in the 1980s, and had actually seen some of the subway graffiti art he was famed for.

Both untitled, from 1984 (back) and 1985.

The exhibit featured more than 100 of Haring’s work in painting, sculpture, drawing, fashion, and other mediums throughout his short career, along with videos, photographs, and other “ephemera” to enhance the experience.

Per the exhibit description, his work “continues to resonate for its prescient address of social issues and its celebration of joy, solidarity, community, and hope.”

*3 Piece Leather Suit*, 1983. The skirt and jacket were designed by Hector Torres, with the felt-tip pen pattern added by Keith Haring with LA II (Angel Ortiz).

Haring prowled the subway looking for black advertisement backboards, which he used as a canvas for quick art. He gained fame (notoriety?), he began earning commissions and was featured in numerous exhibitions from 1982-1989.

Sadly, Haring was diagnosed with HIV in 1987, which at the time was pretty much a death sentence. He used his last years to create awareness about AIDS and safe sex, including created the Keith Haring Foundation in 1989 to benefit AIDS organizations. Haring died in 1990, aged just 31.

Haring used his work to support AIDS advocacy groups and address the crisis (though it may be hard to recall now, it *was* a crisis in the 1980s, especially for gay men). The sign said, the outbreak “created three emergencies: a public health issue, a crisis of political inaction, and an increase in social stigma.”

Since his death, his work has been featured in more than 150 exhibitions around the world, and hangs on the walls of major art institutions around the world.

^{The cover photo to this post is an Untitled work from 1985 commissioned by the Live Aid benefit concert.}