Keith Haring: Heaven and Hell

The American paitner and sculptor Keith Haring, who died in 1990, is, without question, one of the most popular artists of the 20th century. More than a decade after his death, his output is still important to both a younger generation of artists and to the public in general. Therefore, as more and more of his fans and admirers know him only from the posters and products adorned with his images, it seems all the more essential to present the lesser-known aspects of Haring's oeuvre: to look beyond the Haring of the ubiquitous, world-famous cheerful matchstick figures. From his earliest days as an artist, Haring engaged with the meaning of death, suffering, and violence; with the importance of religion and the afterlife to the individual and to society. It is only against this background that his positive, life-affirming icons can be properly understood. The main focus of this publication is on paintings and drawings from the artist's estate, some of which have never been previously published, as well as the rarely seen, large format pictures and wall hangings on the theme of heaven and hell.