Keith Haring at Tate Liverpool

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor
Keith Haring, Untitled (1983), woodcut. Collection of the Keith Haring Foundation. Courtesy of Tate Liverpool

Keith Haring at Tate Liverpool, Waterfront 14 June — 10 November 2019 Tickets from £12.5 — Book now

Renowned for his stylistically bold drawings, paintings and murals, which he often made on the pavements and in the subway stations and underground clubs of 1980s New York, the legendary Keith Haring is perhaps one of the most influential and iconic American artists of the 20th century. Through his artwork and tireless activism, he spoke out for a generation on issues including political dictatorship, homophobia, nuclear war, drug addiction, AIDS awareness, racism, the excesses of capitalism and environmental degradation. He also encapsulates much of the raw energy of the city at the time, having worked with and alongside others such as Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf, and taking inspiration from the exploding graffiti, rap and hip-hop scene that surrounded him.

Haring believed passionately that “the public has a right to art” and wanted his work to reach beyond a gallery-going audience and be experienced and explored by as many people as possible. His large-scale designs can still be found outdoors, and in the schools and hospitals of New York, and he saw the t-shirts, badges and posters that he sold in his famous Pop Shop on Lafayette Street as an ultimate way of countering the highbrow elitism of the art establishment.

Given the level of elitism and wealth that still pervades the artworld, now, nearly three decades after his early death from AIDS in 1990, seems a good time for the long overdue first UK-based institutional solo exhibition of his output. Opening this summer, Keith Haring at Tate Liverpool will bring together 70 of the great artist’s works, including large-scale drawings and paintings, complemented by archival documents, flyers, posters, video and photographs. Based on the enigmatic energy and dynamism of his style alone, this looks set to be one of the major cultural highlights of 2019.

Keith Haring at Tate Liverpool, Waterfront 14 June — 10 November 2019 Tickets from £12.5 Book now

Where to go near Keith Haring at Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Liverpool
Waterfront
Gallery
Royal Albert Dock

Liverpool’s Albert Dock is a reliably great day or night out, and here’s what’s on offer there over the Christmas weeks.

Rosa's Thai Cafe
Liverpool
Restaurant
Rosa’s Thai Cafe

Rosa’s Thai Cafe is another great addition to Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, serving up delicious and authentic Thai food in stylish surroundings, with wonderfully charming staff.

The open kitchen at Lerpwl
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
Restaurant
Lerpwl

The 80-cover restaurant is split across two levels with the main restaurant downstairs boasting an open kitchen; the best seat in the house is at the benches where you are almost nose to nose with the chefs as they prepare the food. 

Liverpool
Restaurant
Madre Liverpool

A smart, modern Mexican restaurant in Liverpool’s Albert Dock, with an extensive menu featuring showstopping dishes such as half a pig’s head and butterflied sea bass.

Wild Shore Liverpool
Liverpool
Tourist Attraction
Wild Shore Liverpool

Situated in the Royal Albert Dock this bonanza of slipping, sliding, clinging on for dear life and ultimately splashing into the water is riotous fun.

Waterfront
Gallery
RIBA North

RIBA North is the new national architecture centre on the Liverpool Waterfront.

What's on: Exhibitions

Culture Guides

Teenage Dads
Music in Manchester and the North

Fresh concert seasons, forward-thinking festivals and a revolving door of amazing gigs. Things are looking bright as spring comes into view.