Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat at the opening reception for Julian Schnabel at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1987<br/>
Photo: © George Hirose
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Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat at the opening reception for Julian Schnabel at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1987
Media Release • 27 Dec 19

NGV Friday Nights – Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines

6 December 2019 to 10 April 2020 + 11 April 2020 | NGV International | Admission fees apply

NGV Friday Nights returns to the National Gallery of Victoria to pay homage to the 80s and Downtown New York City in a summer celebration of the Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines exhibition, from 6 December 2019.

Every week DJs spotlight a music moment of the era, including disco, post-punk, hip hop, synth and new wave, as the NGV hosts international acts including New York City’s Ge-Ology and Natasha Diggs; the UK’s Alex Rita & Errol and Ruby Savage; Detroit’s Nicole Misha and Melbourne’s YO! MAFIA and Banoffee (DJ Set).

NGV Friday Nights full line-up:

Friday 6 December – Ge-Ology (NYC) and Emma Stevenson (DJ Set)

Friday 13 December – Loure (DJ Set) and Paul Gorrie

Friday 20 December – Fei Pao (Hot Wax Sound System) and Sullivan (DJ Set)

Friday 27 December – Banoffee (DJ Set) and SPUNKGUNK

Friday 3 January – MzRizk and Danny Hotep

Friday 10 January – Noise In My Head and Jade Zoe

Friday 17 January – DJ Jimmy James and Edd Fisher (DJ Set)

Friday 24 January – Simon Caldwell and Shelley

Friday 31 January – Alexander Powers and DJ Cookie

Friday 7 February – Natasha Diggs (NYC) and 6am at the Garage

Friday 14 February – Alex Rita & Errol (UK) and Simona Castricum (DJ Set)

Friday 21 February – Rok Riley and C.FRIM

Friday 28 February – Ruby Savage (UK) and Soju Gang

Friday 6 March – Interstellar Fugitives and Merve

Friday 13 March – Beth Grace and A.Kid

Friday 20 March – Whiskey Houston and Lori

Friday 27 March – Memphis LK and CLIFTONIA

Friday 3 April – Nicole Misha (Detroit) and DJ Manchild

Friday 10 April – YO! MAFIA and River Yarra

Saturday 11 April – DJ JNETT and Toni Yotzi

A diverse selection of local and international talent bring 80s sounds to the NGV Garden. Bombay Sapphire will be serving up their signature gin and tonics, and Asahi serving their award-winning premium beer paired with classic NYC food. Yering Station will be pouring a selection of fine wines matching a grazing menu with a modern take on 80s nostalgia at CLOSET Disco Bar. Presented by the NGV in collaboration with CLOSET, one of Melbourne’s longest running queer parties, CLOSET Disco Bar will feature a wide array of LGBTQIA+ DJs and performance artists doing pop-up performances throughout the evening.

“With late-night access to Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat | Crossing Lines presented alongside an impressive line-up of live music, classic cocktails, and delicious street food, NGV Friday Nights promises a vibrant tribute to 80s New York City during the heart of Melbourne’s summer,” said Tony Ellwood AM, Director, National Gallery of Victoria.

The NGV Friday Nights summer series coincides with the unprecedented, world-exclusive exhibition Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines, presenting works by two of the most significant and influential artists of the late twentieth century.

Across more than 200 multi-disciplinary works, the exhibition will offer new and fascinating insights into Haring and Basquiat’s unique visual languages and reveal – for the first time – the many intersections between their lives, practices and ideas. Tickets for NGV Friday Nights provides late-night access to this unprecedented exhibition, live music, bars and dining options.

Keith Haring (American 1958-90) and Jean-Michel Basquiat (American 1960-88) changed the art world of the 1980s through their idiosyncratic imagery, radical ideas and complex socio-political commentary, creating an indelible legacy that continues to influence contemporary visual and popular culture today. Crossing Lines will survey each artist’s tragically short, yet prolific career, featuring works created in public space, painting, sculpture, objects, works on paper, photographs, original notebooks and more.

Online ticket bookings and information:  $28 Members / $35 Adult / $16 Child Door (limited) $33 Members / $40 Adult / $21 Child. NGV Friday Nights includes late-night access to the exhibition Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines, plus music, bars and dining options.  American Express Card Members will have access to ticket discounts and enjoy priority entry along with NGV Members.

The world-exclusive exhibition Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines will be on display from 1 December 2019 – 13 April 2020 at NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia. Tickets and information available from the NGV website.

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