An exhibition of Keith Haring's art and activism makes clear: 'Art is for everybody'

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/27/ [login to see] /keith-haring-radiant-baby-the-broad
In the 1980s, Keith Haring's cartoon-like images were everywhere — from t-shirts and New York City streets to art galleries around the world. His figures of dancers, hearts, babies and dogs remain pop culture motifs. Now, his art and his activism are featured in a major exhibition at the Broad Museum in Los Angeles.

The show Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody immediately transports visitors to New York City in the 1980s. The gallery spaces are even accompanied by music from his old mixtapes he and his DJ friends made.

It opens with photos of the then-24-year-old artist working furtively underground. Inspired by hip-hop graffiti artists who spray painted subway cars, Haring used chalk on empty black advertising panels on the subway platforms. He drew simple outlined figures — most often, a crawling "radiant baby" and a barking dog.