The Nakamura Keith Haring Collection in Kobuchizawa, Yamanashi, the only museum in the world devoted to New York-based artist Keith Haring (1958–1990), is marking National Coming Out Day (October 11) with a range of activities celebrating diversity and self-expression.
Inside the museum, the "Poster for National Coming Out Day" is on special display. Outside, a pop-up shop is being held from Sunday, October 11 to Sunday, October 18 at Sasazuka Bowl in Shibuya, Tokyo, a venue that has been familiar to the neighborhood since the 1970s and where music, art, fashion, food and other cultures intersect.
In addition, on October 6, a large-scale "Keith Haring" exhibition opened at Museo di Roma in Italy, centered on the museum's collection and bringing together valuable works from Italy and abroad. The museum's "Poster for National Coming Out Day" is also on view at this exhibition.
"I am proud to be gay. I am proud to have friends and lovers of every skin color."
— From the Keith Haring Journal, March 28, 1987
National Coming Out Day on October 11 was established in 1988, under psychologist Dr. Robert Eichberg and LGBTQ+ rights activist Jean O'Leary, as an international day celebrating people who openly share their sexual orientation or gender identity. Its ideals have since spread around the world, and large-scale celebrations and other events for the LGBTQ+ community are held in many places every year.
The Nakamura Keith Haring Collection carries on the wishes of Haring, who worked as an artist while openly gay, and continues to support the community through exhibitions and events.
"Poster for National Coming Out Day" on Display
In the 1980s, when discrimination and prejudice against sexual minorities remained strong, Keith Haring worked while openly gay. The "Poster for National Coming Out Day" now on display was created in 1988 for the launch of the day. In English-speaking countries, not having told those around you that you are LGBTQ+ is also described as being "in the closet." The work celebrates, in vivid color, stepping out of that state, coming out and living as your true self, and it has continued to give courage to people in the community as a symbol of National Coming Out Day to this day.
The poster on display is a valuable item donated last year by the Keith Haring Foundation in New York. Visitors can experience Haring's message, which reaches across the decades.
Special display: "Poster for National Coming Out Day"
- Period: August 30 (Sun), 2026 to October 18 (Sun), 2026
- Venue: Nakamura Keith Haring Collection, entrance
Pop-Up Shop at Sasazuka Bowl
From Sunday, October 11 to Sunday, October 18, 2026, "Nakamura Keith Haring Collection National Coming Out Day Pop-up at Sasazuka Bowl" is being held at Sasazuka Bowl. Held to coincide with National Coming Out Day, the event sells goods bearing symbols that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, along with popular Keith Haring items.
On opening day, October 11, which was National Coming Out Day itself, an opening party was held with Tasty, who performs as a drag queen and also captivates the floor as a DJ. More than 100 guests attended, making for a lively start.
Pop-up shop: "Nakamura Keith Haring Collection National Coming Out Day Pop-up at Sasazuka Bowl"
- Period: October 11 (Sun) to October 18 (Sun), 2026, with no regular closing days during the period; closes at 6:00 PM on the final day, Sunday, October 18
- Venue: Sasazuka Bowl
- Admission: Free
Sasazuka Bowl
- Address: 3F, 1-57-10 Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0073
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8:00 AM to midnight; Friday and Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 AM the next day
"Keith Haring" Exhibition at Museo di Roma, Italy
The "Keith Haring" exhibition opened on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at Museo di Roma (Palazzo Braschi) in Italy. About 130 works from the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection are on show, and valuable works from Italy and abroad are gathered together. This is the third time the collection has been shown in Italy, following Milan in 2017 and Pisa in 2021. Through curation that makes use of the architectural character of Palazzo Braschi, a former palace, the exhibition presents the universal message in Haring's works. It also focuses on Haring's connections with Italy and examines his activities and works from multiple angles.
Photo: © Monkeys Video Lab
Exhibition: "Keith Haring"
- Venue: Museo di Roma (Palazzo Braschi)
- Address: 10 Piazza San Pantaleo (2 Piazza Navona), Rome
- Period: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 to Sunday, April 11, 2027
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last admission one hour before closing); closed on Mondays
- Organizers: City of Rome Department of Culture and Office for the Coordination of Holocaust Remembrance Day Initiatives; City of Rome Superintendency of Cultural Heritage
- Co-production and planning: City of Rome Superintendency of Cultural Heritage; MondoMostre
- Operational support: Zètema Progetto Cultura
- Support: Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
- Main sponsor: FinecoBank
