Keith Haring
Keith Haring by Darren Pih
Details
An energetic introduction to the work of iconic American visual and graffiti artist Keith Haring
- Paperback : 128 pages
- 7.7 x 0.65 x 9.85 inches
- Publisher : Tate
- Language: : English
This vibrant book explores extraordinary artist Keith Haring’s work in the context of key issues of his lifetime—the AIDS crisis, the Cold War, racism, the excesses of capitalism, and environmental degradation. Haring (1958–1990) is widely recognized for his colorful paintings, drawings, sculptures, and murals. Haring exploded onto the early 1980s New York art scene with his vivid graffiti-inspired drawings, many of which found exposure in public, such as the Times Square billboard “broadcast” of his famous Radiant Child in 1982. Featuring some 70 works supplemented by rarely seen photography and film stills, this accessible book not only introduces Haring to a new audience, but it also throws fresh light on an artist whose work remains emblematic of the subcultural and creative energy of 1980s New York.
Keith Haring
Bridging the gap between the art world and the street, Keith Haring rose to prominence in the early 1980s with his graffiti drawings made in the subways and on the sidewalks of New York City. Combining the appeal of cartoons with the raw energy of Art Brut artists like Jean DuBuffet, Haring developed a distinct pop-graffiti aesthetic centered on fluid, bold outlines against a dense, rhythmic overspread of imagery like that of babies, barking dogs, flying saucers, hearts, and Mickey Mouse. In his subway drawings and murals, Haring explored themes of exploitation, subjugation, drug abuse, and rising fears of nuclear holocaust, which became increasingly apocalyptic after his AIDS diagnosis. Alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and Jenny Holzer, Haring is regarded as a leading figure in New York East Village Art scene in the 1970s and '80s.
