Incredible art, hip-hop karaoke and a performance from Russell Tovey, the Tate is putting on a show to celebrate the first UK exhibition of Keith Haring’s work.
Keith Haring, you might not know his name but you’ll have seen his art. Colourful barking dogs, dancing figures, crawling babies – on your mates t-shirt, badge, maybe even a tattoo. But he is more than playful cartoons and New York street art, he’s an artist that captured an era and used his creativity for good.
It’s a real coup for the city to be holding the first ever UK exhibition of Haring’s work and the show is a full-on hit for the senses. Massive vibrant paintings, pieces of New York subway art and a recreation of his immersive Blacklight Room exhibition are both visually impressive and layered with meaning.
Because more than just being an artist who hung out with Warhol, lived the New York 80s club scene, and collaborated with Madonna, Haring was an activist. He used the clean, simple lines of his work to get across powerful messages in an immediate and meaningful way. To raise awareness of aids, apartheid, environmentalism, homophobia and social inequality.
Haring’s work is timeless in style and, sadly, still relevant in message. So go and see the show, get yourself some merch – it’s what Keith would want, not just the staff in the shop – and check out some of these great events over the next couple of months:
CURATOR’S TALK
Saturday 29 June 2019, 11.00–12.00, and Friday 9 August 2019, 15.00–16.00
Explore Keith Haring’s vibrant artworks with the curator of the exhibition. It will highlight the huge impact Haring had on the art world and delve into Haring’s activist works, in which he responded to urgent issues of the time, including political dictatorship, racism, homophobia, drug addiction, AIDS awareness, capitalism and the environment.
To book tickets head to tate.org.uk
PIN DROP STUDIO PRESENT: RUSSELL TOVEY
Saturday 29 June 2019, 19.00–21.15
Acclaimed British actor, art collector and podcaster, Russell Tovey will read poetry against the backdrop of the exhibition. The performance will be followed by an in conversation alongside exhibition curators Darren Pih and Tamar Hemmes, with an opportunity to hear Tovey’s perspective on Keith Haring, and a book signing.
To book tickets head to tate.org.uk
HIP HOP KARAOKE
Friday 19 July, Friday 13 September, Friday 8 November 2019
19.00–22.30
Get down to a new night of hip-hop karaoke in the Tate Liverpool Café. DJ Rob Pursey, host Bobby Champagne Jr. and the Hip Hop Karaoke team will lead the party and there will be some quality craft beer to loosen your vocal chords. From old school gems to the latest hip hop hits, there will be hundreds of songs to choose from.
To book tickets head to tate.org.uk
JOSEPH COTGRAVE CASTING WORKSHOP
Wednesday 24 July 2019 14.00–16.00
Liverpool-based artist Joseph Cotgrave explores HIV and the stigma surrounding the virus through his experience of living with it. In this workshop you can hear about his work and cast replicas of ARV medication – used to suppress the HIV virus – into sweets and pin badges.
To book tickets head to tate.org.uk
LIVERPOOL PRIDE X TATE LIVERPOOL
Friday 26 July 2019 18.30–22.30
Kicking off Pride weekend, Tate Liverpool will stage Liverpool Pride X Tate Liverpool with talks, workshops, music and food. Penguin Pride will host the Turn Up Stage, featuring performances from some of the most exciting LGBTQ writers and artists working today. There will be tours of the exhibition and even vogueing masterclasses from Liverpool’s House of Suarez, Darren Suarez.
THE BIG BADGE EXCHANGE
Wednesday 7 – Saturday 10, Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17, and Wednesday 21 – Friday 23 August 2019
13.00–16.00
A family workshop where you can design and create badges and printed posters inspired by Haring’s bright and bold designs, in the spirit of his ground-breaking Pop Shop in New York in 1986, where he sold t-shirts, badges and novelty items with his imagery.