Keith Haring is one of the most well-known American artists of the twentieth century. Famous for his paintings and sculptures of the “Radiant Baby” he was inspired by New York City street art in the late 70’s. His artwork stands out for the bold lines, vivid colors, and active figures carry strong messages of life and action.
Currently his work is in an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and includes 155 works on paper, numerous experimental videos, and over 150 archival objects, including rarely seen sketchbooks, journals, exhibition flyers, posters, subway drawings, and documentary photographs.
The exhibition chronicles the period in Haring’s career from his arrival in New York City through the years when he started his studio practice and began making public and political art on the city streets. Immersing himself in New York’s downtown culture, he quickly became a fixture on the artistic scene, befriending other artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf, as well as many of the most innovative cultural figures of the period. The critical role that these relationships played in Haring’s development as a public artist and facilitator of group exhibitions and performances is also explored. Pieces on view include a number of very early works never before seen in public; seven video pieces, including Painting Myself into a Corner (his first video piece) and Tribute to Gloria Vanderbilt; and collages created from cut-up fragments of his own writing, history textbooks, and newspapers.
To find out more information about Keith Haring visit the Brooklyn Museum.
