How Keith Haring changed the world?
By opening up the art world and turning it on its head, by taking art back and sharing it with those he was speaking up for, Haring had his most lasting effect. For his has been a vivid, populist approach that has been - and still is - emulated by the likes of Banksy Invader and others.
What makes Keith Haring's art unique?
His paintings are considered part of the general contemporary art movement, rather than the 'figuration libre' (free figuration) movement. Haring's signature style consisted of the continuous repetition of stylised shapes in bright, vibrant colours and outlined in black on different media.
What type of art is Keith Haring known for?
pop artistKeith Haring was an American pop artist who created a lot of street and graffiti art in New York City during the 1980s. He rose to fame during the 1980s and is known worldwide for his innovative style.
When did Keith Haring become famous?
Between 1980 and 1989, Haring achieved international recognition and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions. His first solo exhibition in New York.
Why Keith Haring is an inspiration?
Haring was a true original within the art world. An exhilarating combination of pop art and graffiti, the artist took inspiration from the underground cultures he immersed himself in but equally he gave back.
What themes did Keith Haring explore?
While many of his colourful figures have instant commercial appeal, much of the work of Keith Haring revolved around themes of politics, sexuality, war, religion and AIDS, largely in response to the street culture Haring experienced in New York City.
What are some of Keith Haring's most iconic drawings?
The 10 Most Famous Artworks of Keith HaringRadiant Baby (from Icons series), 1990. ... Ignorance = Fear, 1989. ... Crack is Wack, 1986. ... Free South Africa, 1985. ... Montreux, 1983. ... Safe Sex, 1988. ... Pop Shop III, 1989. ... Andy Mouse, 1986.More items...•
Who Made the Best Buddies logo?
Keith HaringKeith Haring, one of the best-known contemporary artists in the world, created and donated what has become the Best Buddies logo. It incorporates a colorful creation that represents one-to-one affection and acceptance.
What does pop art represent?
Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the United Kingdom and the United States during the mid- to late-1950s. The movement presented a challenge to traditions of fine art by including imagery from popular and mass culture, such as advertising, comic books and mundane mass-produced objects.
How did Keith Haring become one of the world's most famous street artists?
Keith Haring moved to New York City in 1978 and began using the city as his canvas, making chalk drawings in subway stations. His art was eventually seen everywhere from public murals and nightclubs to galleries and museums around the world. He was also known for his activism in promoting AIDS awareness.
What techniques did Keith Haring use?
Haring experimented with a number of printmaking techniques in his career such as lithography, screen printing, etching, woodcuts and embossing. These printing mediums worked to bridge the gap between his unique pieces and the reproduction of his imagery to promote the accessibility of his popular imagery.
What did Keith Haring died of?
HIV/AIDSKeith Haring / Cause of deathHaring eventually died from AIDS-related complications in 1990 at the age of 31. He seemingly carried out his desire to make art accessible to millions of people right to the very end.
What events had a huge impact on Haring's art?
Keith Haring Infamously Tagged The Streets However, most of his work was a response to the social and political events that transpired during that time including the battle to end Apartheid, the massive AIDS epidemic and ongoing drug abuse.
What techniques did Keith Haring use?
Haring experimented with a number of printmaking techniques in his career such as lithography, screen printing, etching, woodcuts and embossing. These printing mediums worked to bridge the gap between his unique pieces and the reproduction of his imagery to promote the accessibility of his popular imagery.
What materials did Keith Haring use for his artwork?
Vinyl tarpaulin canvas: In the early years of his career, Haring painted on vinyl tarps, the same material that street breakdancers often laid on the ground before performances. He didn't start using traditional canvas material until around 1985. 3.
Where did Haring go to school?
After a brief period studying at the Ivy School of Art in Pittsburgh, Haring moved to New York City in 1978 to attend the School of Visual Arts. With fellow artists Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Haring immersed himself in the punk clubs and street art scene of New York.
Where did Haring open his shop?
In 1986 Haring opened a store called the Pop Shop in New York City, where he marketed products that ranged from T-shirts and pin-on buttons to original prints. He opened a Tokyo branch of the shop in 1988. Haring was socially conscious, and his murals often reflected his position on social issues.
What did Haring do?
Haring had a maintenance job at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and was able to explore the art of Jean Dubuffet, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Tobey. He was highly influenced around this time by a 1977 retrospective of Pierre Alechinsky 's work and by a lecture that the sculptor Christo gave in 1978. From Alechinsky work, he felt encouraged to create large images that featured writing and characters. From Christo, Haring was introduced to ways of incorporating the public into his art. His first important one-man exhibition was in Pittsburgh at the Center for the Arts in 1978.
Who is Keith Haring's mother?
Keith Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on May 4, 1958. He was raised in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, by his mother, Joan Haring, and father, Allen Haring, an engineer and amateur cartoonist. He had three younger sisters, Kay, Karen, and Kristen. He became interested in art at a very young age, spending time with his father producing creative drawings. His early influences included Walt Disney cartoons, Dr. Seuss, Charles Schulz, and the Looney Tunes characters in The Bugs Bunny Show.
How did Haring die?
Haring died on February 16, 1990, of AIDS-related complications. In 2014, Haring was one of the inaugural honorees in the Rainbow Honor Walk in San Francisco, a walk of fame noting LGBTQ people who have "made significant contributions in their fields." In 2019, Haring was one of the inaugural fifty American "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes" inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument in New York City's Stonewall Inn .
How many murals did Haring make?
After gaining public recognition, he created colorful larger scale murals, many commissioned. He produced more than 50 public artworks between 1982 and 1989, many were created voluntarily for hospitals, day care centers, and schools. In 1986, Haring opened the Pop Shop as an extension of his work.
How many exhibitions did Haring have?
During his lifetime, Haring had over 50 solo exhibitions, and was represented by well-known galleries such as the Tony Shafrazi Gallery and the Leo Castelli Gallery. Since his death, has been featured in over 150 exhibitions around the world. He has also been the subject of several international retrospectives .
What church did Haring attend?
Haring's family attended the United Church of Christ. In his early teenage years, he was involved with the Jesus Movement. Later, he hitchhiked across the country, while selling T-shirts that he made featuring the Grateful Dead and anti- Nixon shirts. Haring graduated from Kutztown Area High School in 1976. He studied commercial art from 1976 to 1978 at Pittsburgh's Ivy School of Professional Art, but eventually lost interest. He was inspired to focus on his own art after reading The Art Spirit (1923) by Robert Henri. This influenced his decision to leave the Ivy School.
What museums did Haring exhibit his art in?
The Whitney Museum held a retrospective of his art in 1997.
What is Keith Haring known for?
Keith Haring joined a long but sporadic lineage of 20 th -century artists who brought elements of popular culture, "low art" and non-art elements into the formerly exclusive "high art" spaces of museums and galleries.
What did Haring do for art?
Haring provided proof of the possibilities of using public sites that were not usually dedicated to art to share artistic and political messages to multiple audiences. He lent street art credibility and legitimacy and took it into fine art galleries and museums, inspiring a new generation of street-to-gallery artists.
Why did Haring use vibrant lines?
Haring used vibrant lines in and around his subjects to convey energy, both positive and negative. Some attribute his adoption of this visual sign to the influence of Hip Hop music, where the visual imagery of dark lines was used to represent the impact of sound on listeners. Artwork Images.
What is the elephant in Haring's sculpture?
His signature black human cartoon persona was painted in different positions all over the white elephant. This may allude to humans dominating nature to the detriment of other species. The elephant may also have been purposely chosen based on the then anecdotal idea of its excellent memory - meaning one should never forget where you came from or who you are.. This black and white with red theme may have been a purely aesthetic choice based on the pleasing, simple yet powerful tri-color relationship. However, historically, the color white represents innocence, while the red horns and platform may indicate bloodshed, violence and/or passion. Among the largest of Haring's sculptures, the elephant is also unusually constructed of a different material than Haring's more typical use of aluminum, terra cotta or plaster for sculpture. It stands out as a rare example of a species that is divergent from his more usual humans, dogs, dolphins or serpent s.
What did Haring's commitment to clean lines and simple images give new life to?
Haring's commitment to clean lines and simple images gave new life to figuration in painting , in contrast to the more abstract and conceptual approaches of the previous generation, and the more expressionistic gestural painting of his contemporaries.
Who was the artist who opened the field of possibility for how seemingly simple and even cartoony elements by self-taught?
Along with his artist contemporaries Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf, Haring opened the field of possibility for how seemingly simple and even cartoony elements by self-taught or less-schooled artists might be appreciated.
Who is Julia Gruen?
Julia Gruen of Keith Haring Foundation. "Keith made works that can hang in museums alongside masterpieces by Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol and hold their own as art-historically important pieces. But there's also the art world you see on the streets, and Keith helped make that happen.
Where was Keith Haring born?
Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and was raised in nearby Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He developed a love for drawing at a very early age, learning basic cartooning skills from his father and from the popular culture around him, such as Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney. Upon graduation from high school in 1976, ...
How did Keith Haring die?
Keith Haring died of AIDS related complications at the age of 31 on February 16, 1990. A memorial service was held on May 4, 1990 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, with over 1,000 people in attendance. Since his death, Haring has been the subject of several international retrospectives.
What was the name of the famous mural that Haring painted?
The now famous Crack is Wack mural of 1986 has become a landmark along New York’s FDR Drive. Other projects include; a mural created for the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986, on which Haring worked with 900 children; a mural on the exterior of Necker Children’s Hospital in Paris, France in 1987; and a mural painted on the western side of the Berlin Wall three years before its fall. Haring also held drawing workshops for children in schools and museums in New York, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo and Bordeaux, and produced imagery for many literacy programs and other public service campaigns.
What influences did Haring use?
In addition to being impressed by the innovation and energy of his contemporaries, Haring was also inspired by the work of Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Alechinsky, William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and Robert Henri’s manifesto The Art Spirit, which asserted the fundamental independence of the artist. With these influences Haring was able to push his own youthful impulses toward a singular kind of graphic expression based on the primacy of the line. Also drawn to the public and participatory nature of Christo’s work, in particular Running Fence, and by Andy Warhol’s unique fusion of art and life, Haring was determined to devote his career to creating a truly public art.
How many subway drawings did Haring make?
Between 1980 and 1985, Haring produced hundreds of these public drawings in rapid rhythmic lines, sometimes creating as many as forty “subway drawings” in one day.
What did Haring do in his art?
He began to create drawings in white chalk upon these blank paper panels throughout the subway system. Between 1980 and 1985, Haring produced hundreds of these public drawings in rapid rhythmic lines, sometimes creating as many as forty “subway drawings” in one day. This seamless flow of images became familiar to New York commuters, who often would stop to engage the artist when they encountered him at work. The subway became, as Haring said, a “laboratory” for working out his ideas and experimenting with his simple lines.
When did Haring start his solo exhibition?
Between 1980 and 1989, Haring achieved international recognition and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions. His first solo exhibition in New York.was held at the Westbeth Painters Space in 1981. In 1982, he made his Soho gallery debut with an immensely popular and highly acclaimed one-man exhibition at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery. During this period, he also participated in renowned international survey exhibitions such as Documenta 7 in Kassel; the São Paulo Biennial; and the Whitney Biennial. Haring completed numerous public projects in the first half of the 80’s as well, ranging from an animation for the Spectacolor billboard in Times Square, designing sets and backdrops for theaters and clubs, developing watch designs for Swatch and an advertising campaign for Absolut vodka; and creating murals worldwide.
What are some interesting facts about Keith Haring?
10 lesser-known facts about Keith Haring. Street artist. Prolific AIDS activist. Sexual art pioneer. Keith Haring was all of these things and so much more. In his 31 short years in this world, Haring saw more and achieved more than many. And his legacy — a collection of more than an estimated 10,000 pieces of art — lives on in commerce, culture, ...
What did Haring's parents do?
While Haring’s parents did not exactly embrace the ’60s cultural revolution, they did kindle their son’s love of art, which was heavily inspired by the cartoons and animation of his childhood, including the work of Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney. “My father made cartoons.
How old was Haring when he burst out of a cake?
He went to church camp every summer, where once, around the age of 12, he burst out of a cardboard cake and performed a strip tease dressed as a woman.
What did Haring do to rectify this?
Haring sought to rectify this by making art more accessible. Inspired by the graffiti he was seeing splashed on buildings and subway cars across the city, Haring began drawing on hundreds of empty black boards covering old advertisements in subway stations.
Where did Haring first learn semiotics?
It was while studying at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, that Haring first encountered semiotics, which he described as “looking at language and picking it apart and deciphering how meaning attached itself to things.”.
When was Keith Haring's Pisa mural?
Keith Haring’s Pisa mural, June 1989. Photo: The Haring Foundation. During his art school years, Haring and his compatriots were starting to get bored of the art world as an elitist space.
Who was Haring's dealer?
Haring’s art dealer, Tony Shafrazi, was known as a larger-than-life figure who always said exactly what was on his mind. But before their formal partnership, Shafrazi made headlines when he strolled into New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1974 and spray painted “Kill Lies All” in foot-high red letters across the famed Pablo Picasso painting “Guernica.” Through the public outrage at the time, Haring saw something in this rebellious act of vandalism. As he later said, “the fact [Shafrazi] believed in protests against the war and was committed enough to stand up to what he knew would be incredible attacks from the art world, I respected that.” In turn, Shafrazi became one of the first people to see the value in Haring’s work, helping Haring to turn his dreams of making money from art into a reality.
What is Keith Haring's most famous work?
As one of the most iconic figures of the New York City art scene in the 1980s, Keith Haring’s highly recognizable works are both visually mesmerizing and socially significant. Depicting the artist’s unique rendering of social and political issues such as sexuality and war, Haring’s work stands at the intersection of graffiti and pop art, and it created a contemporary genre of its own. We profile ten essential works by this legendary NYC-based artist.
Who was Keith Haring's friend?
Warhol believed Grace Jones’s body to be Haring’s perfect canvas, as she embodied Haring’s commonly revisited ideals of both ‘primitive’ and pop culture. Thus, Warhol arranged for his friend Robert Mapplethorpe to photograph Grace Jones painted by Keith Haring, adorned with a tall headpiece (also designed by Haring) and rubber jewelry by David Spada.
What is the artwork on the canvas that Keith Haring painted?
This acrylic on canvas work bears several iconic symbols associated with Keith Haring, including barking dogs, running figures, and pyramids. Central to the canvas is a space ship, wreaking havoc on everything surrounding it. This busy and chaotic piece merges elements of graffiti and fine art.
What is the meaning of the painting Untitled by Haring?
This work, in acrylic and oil on canvas, signifies a departure not only from monochromatic colors but also from Haring’s usual symbols of moving figures and dogs. Rather, Untitled (1986) depicts ...
What is the theme of Haring's painting?
Themes of sex, birth, and death are present in this chaotic work, as one figure gives birth to a child, and others meet an untimely end, eaten by a dog and falling through a black hole.
What is the central figure in Haring's Untitled?
At the center of the painting is a human-like creature with a computer for a head, manhandling various smaller human figures around it. The nature of this artwork is intended to be discomforting, as the central figure itself is also poked and prodded by large hands emerging from the top of the frame.
Overview
Keith Allen Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) was an American artist whose pop art emerged from the New York City graffiti subculture of the 1980s. His animated imagery has "become a widely recognized visual language". Much of his work includes sexual allusions that turned into social activism by using the images to advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness. In addition to solo gallery exhibitions, he participated in renowned national and international group …
Biography
Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on May 4, 1958. He was raised in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, by his mother, Joan Haring, and father, Allen Haring, an engineer and amateur cartoonist. He had three younger sisters, Kay, Karen and Kristen. He became interested in art at a very young age, spending time with his father producing creative drawings. His early influences included Walt Disney c…
Friendships
Soon after moving to New York to study at the School of Visual Arts, he became friends with classmates Kenny Scharf, Samantha McEwen, and John Sex. Eventually, he befriended Jean-Michel Basquiat, who would write his SAMO graffiti around the campus. When Basquiat died in 1988, Haring wrote his obituary for Vogue magazine, and he paid homage to him with the painting A Pile of Crowns for Jean-Michel Basquiat (1988).
Legacy
In 1989, Haring established the Keith Haring Foundation to provide funding and imagery to AIDS organizations and children's programs. The foundation's stated goal is to keep his wishes and expand his legacy by providing grants and funding to non-profit organizations that educate disadvantaged youths and inform the public about HIV and AIDS. It also shares his work and contains inf…
Influences
Haring's work demonstrates political and personal influences. References to his sexual orientation are apparent throughout his work, and his journals confirm its impact on his work. There are symbolic allusions to the AIDS epidemic in some of his later pieces, such as Untitled (cat. no. 27), Silence=Death and his sketch Weeping Woman. In some of his works—including cat. no. 27—the symbolism …
Exhibitions
During his lifetime, Haring had over 50 solo exhibitions, and was represented by well-known galleries such as the Tony Shafrazi Gallery and the Leo Castelli Gallery. Since his death, has been featured in over 150 exhibitions around the world. He has also been the subject of several international retrospectives.
Haring had his first solo exhibition at Westbeth Painters Space in February 1981. That month he …
Art market
A CBS Evening News report from October 1982 shows scenes from Haring's solo exhibit at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in SoHo. It was reported that over a quarter of a million dollars worth of paintings were sold within the first few days of the show's opening. Although he was an established artist by 1983, Shafrazi stated that Haring wanted to keep his prices low. His prices ranged from $3,000 for a drawing to $15,000 for a large painting.
See also
• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of LGBTQ people from New York City