Keith Haring (1958–1990) was at the top of his game for just over a decade, but with his unique blend of urban art, graffiti, pop sensibility, and comic book elements, he created street works, installations, and studio pieces that have become touchstones of modern pop culture and political and social statements. This vivid introduction explores Haring's innovation and activism at the center of the 1980s New York art scene, from his early subway drawings to his Pop Shop stores in SoHo.
A key figure in the New York art scene of the 1980s, Keith Haring created a signature style that blended street art, graffiti, pop art sensibilities, and comic book elements to a unique and memorable effect. Featuring bold black outlines, bright colors, and kinetic figures, his (sometimes illegal) public interventions, sculptures, and works on canvas and paper instantly became unmistakable icons of 20th-century visual culture.
From his early chalk-drawn comics in New York City subway stations to his well-known Radiant Baby design, and his work for Absolut Vodka and watchmaker Swatch, Haring's work reflects the maniacal work ethic of 1980s New York, but is also distinguished by his social conscience. Despite his playful and luminous aesthetic, his works often address controversial political and social issues, such as racism, capitalism, religious fundamentalism, or, as a foreshadowing of his own death in 1990, the impact of AIDS on New York's gay community.
This vivid introduction to Haring's work explores the eventful life and innovative spirit of a singular artist who was at his peak for barely a decade, but whose political commitment and accessible visual language made him one of the most important creators to emerge from New York's vibrant artistic community.
Book details
- Language: English
- Publisher: Taschen
- Hardcover: 96 pages
- Dimensions: 21 x 26 cm
- Weight: 0.59 kg,
