Keith Haring: Art to the Streets is a large-scale touring exhibition of Keith Haring, a renowned American artist of the 1980s known for his bright pop imagery, that is held at The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki.

Based on the belief that “art is for everybody”, Haring disseminated his work throughout everyday life using the subway and streets based mainly in New York. In this way, he gave everyone the opportunity to encounter art. Moreover, in an era predating the internet and social media, Haring conveyed strong social messages to a chaotic society through his works. This made a pioneering figure in the effort to expand the potential of an art-based dialogue with the general public. During his fast-paced 31-year life, Haring spent roughly a decade working as an artist. However, his impressive works, distinguished by their simple bold lines, are still loved by people all over the world, inspiring collaborations in a host of different genres.

This exhibition presents a comprehensive collection of approximately 150 pieces, including the subway drawings that made Haring’s name to monumental, a six-meter-long work and important materials detailing the artist’s special link to Japan. Haring’s art, which he used to fight against latent social violence and inequality, and discrimination and lack of government support for HIV/AIDS community until the end of his life, transcends both time and space, retaining the power to touch our hearts even today.