Montreux Yellow/Pink is a dashing artwork created by renowned American artist Keith Haring. The piece is part of a trio that was created in honor of the world-famous annual Montreux Jazz Festival that has been taking place in Montreux, Switzerland since 1967.

Keith Haring was greatly inspired by the Montreux Jazz Festival, and his connection to the festival extended beyond the creation of the groovy prints. Haring also attended the festival, and during his time in Switzerland, he was actively involved in the festivities, painting t-shirts and murals. In 1986, Haring’s art yet again represented the fest, but this time as a collaboration with Andy Warhol to produce a celebratory poster for the festival’s 20th anniversary.
Montreux Yellow/Pink is the visual epitome of jazz, itself. Rendered in his signature bold Sharpie-esque lines, the combination of fluidity and geometric shapes are a testament to Haring’s ability to visually translate the improvisational quality and dynamism of jazz with even the simplest of forms. One of the most drawing parts of Montreux Yellow/Pink is the buoyancy and delight the central character exudes, dancing wildly with a childlike abandon to the music of the painting. Haring’s mastery of color theory instills the piece with a mood that transports the audience to a summer golden hour by the water, evoking memories of the midsummer jazz marathon on Lake Geneva’s banks with the playful use of bright blues and yellows. Montreux Yellow/Pink serves as a bright expression of art, freedom, and communal celebration, a reflection as crystal as Lake Geneva of Haring’s perception of art’s significance in all of its forms.