© Keith Haring Foundation
Self Portrait, 1989
painted aluminum sculpture
48″ x 27 1/2″ x 33″
© Keith Haring Foundation
Untitled (from 28 heads), 1989
gouache and ink on japanese board
10 3/4 ” x 9 1/2″
A Public Studio
BY TRACY RISUCCI
OCTOBER, 2020
Keith Haring came of age and built a legendary repertoire inspired by the underground art scene and cultural energy percolating throughout the streets of New York city in the 1980s. Working primarily in the public sphere, as an openly gay artist, he could be found creating his pop style art throughout the east village and subway stations in downtown Manhattan.
Haring’s singular style of simple lines expressed universal concepts of birth, death, sex, love and art – all created in response to the contemporary social and political events of the day. With these public spaces serving as his studio, his art ultimately became a powerful weapon that spread awareness about hardships in the LGBTQ community, homosexulity and AIDS .
Forever an artist of the people that found early inspiration from children and the early works of Dr. Seuss, Walt Disney and Charles M. Schultz. His colorful, pop style continues to have mass, international appeal.
Keith Haring died in 1990 from complications related to AIDS. He was 31. Four decades later, his work remains highly influential and he remains an icon in the LGBTQ community. The impressive Keith Haring Foundation continues his legacy of bringing art to the masses, supporting underprivileged children and providing support and education for AIDs and HIV.
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