Keith Haring retrospective opens at Museum Folkwang in Essen

The Museum Folkwang in Essen has opened a major retrospective dedicated to Keith Haring (1958–1990), one of the most representative artists of the late 20th century. The exhibition features around 200 works, including paintings, large-format drawings, posters, photographs, and videos, tracing Haring's life and art. Haring rose to prominence in 1980s New York counterculture with his visual alphabet of barking dogs, crawling babies, and flying saucers—icons laden with social and political meaning. His unmistakable style became emblematic of an era defined by underground culture, robotics, video games, and critical issues such as racism, homosexuality, homophobia, dictatorship, and capitalism. The show is organized in collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation, Tate Liverpool, and BOZAR / Centre for Fine Arts Brussels. Among the highlights is the iconic work Ignorance = Fear (1989). The exhibition runs until November 29, 2020.