Keith Haring’s work is known for its interlocking silhouettes and bold lines. His style is approachable and made for many people, requiring no deep knowledge of art to appreciate it. This perspective is affirmed by Austen Bailly, a curator at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, who describes Haring’s art as graphic, fun, direct, and appealing. Many people recognize Haring through merchandise such as T-shirts and posters, but there is more depth to his artistry.
Crystal Bridges Museum is hosting “Keith Haring in 3D,” an exhibition that celebrates his impactful work in New York City. Featured items include a suit worn by Madonna and various untitled works, like a 1963 Buick with enamel, a papier-mache elephant painted with acrylic, and a television painted by Haring. These pieces are on loan from collections such as Larry Warsh and the Andy Warhol Museum. Haring’s work extended beyond galleries to places like subway walls.
Haring told Charles Osgood in 1982 that there’s no discrepancy between the art he created for galleries and the pieces he painted on subways. Both received equal care and were meant to be an integral part of daily life, making them accessible to people who might not visit galleries.
Olivia Walton, chair of the Crystal Bridges Museum, notes Haring’s consideration of where art can be displayed, who it’s for, and its potential impact by being in everyday locations, like subways or playgrounds.
Haring tackled serious subjects, including the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, through his art. Although he died at 31 due to AIDS-related complications, Bailly hopes visitors of the exhibition experience the joy, color, and fun of Haring’s work despite the solemnity of his death, leaving behind a positive legacy.
The exhibition runs at Crystal Bridges Museum through Jan. 25, 2027. Meanwhile, other museums across the country are opening new exhibits this fall.
In Memphis, the Memphis Art Museum is reopening on Dec. 6 after renovations. It will feature 10,000 works transferred from Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
On the West Coast, RM, a Korean pop star from BTS, curates “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me” at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, displaying nearly 200 works by Korean and international artists until Feb. 7, 2027.
In Chicago, the Art Institute is hosting “Lee Miller: Fearless,” a tribute to the war photographer. This exhibition runs until Dec. 7.
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art presents “Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous,” featuring work by Lee Krasner and her husband, Jackson Pollock, until Jan. 31, 2027.
Additionally, the Whitney Museum is showcasing “Roy Lichtenstein: Like New,” featuring over 130 works including paintings, sculptures, and murals, from Oct. 11, 2026, to May 10, 2027.
Across the Atlantic, the British Museum in London features the Bayeux Tapestry. For the first time in almost 1,000 years, this historic 70-meter-long artifact is on display in England, attracting many visitors until July 11, 2027.
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