Study about Keith Haring (Week 1)

Keith Haring, an American artist who was born on May 4, 1958, in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1978, he moved to New York City and started making chalk drawings in subway stations. His artworks could be seen everywhere. For example, public murals, nightclubs to galleries and museums around the world. Many of his drawing was done by using a singular kind of graphic expression based on the primacy of the line.

Keith Haring

In 1988, Haring was diagnosed with AIDS. In 1989, he established the Keith Haring Foundation which could provide funding and imagery to AIDS organisations and children’s programs. Through exhibition, publication and the licensing of his image, the audience for haring's work was expanded. During the last years of his life, he tried to enlist his imagery. He also spoke about his own illness to generate activism and create awareness about AIDS. On February 16, 1990, he died, at age of 31.

When he was diagnosed with AIDS, a time when the disease was still a source of fear and apprehension, he started creating artworks which were about HIV awareness as well as safe sex campaigns. It was common to see his designs pop up on similarly-targeted campaigns back in the day.

Here are one of his works which was named Safe Sex,1988. This works was used for HIV and AIDS campaign.

Safe Sex, 1988

Other than AIDS campaign, he also used his artwork to speak out against drug abuse. Crack is Wack mural was one of his famous artwork which he did in New Your City. It was created in 1986. As a symbol of anti-drug activism, Crack is Wack commemorates Haring’s powerful sociopolitical presence as an artist and remains a part of New York City’s vast repertoire of iconic public art.

Crack is Wack, 1986

To further understanding about Crack is Wack artwork, you can watch this video:

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Here is a video which may help you know more about Keith Haring and also his work:

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Reference list:

Editors. (n.d.). The Keith Haring Foundation. Bio| Keith Haring. Retrieved from https://www.haring.com/!/about-haring/bio

Editors. (2014, April 2). Keith Haring Biography. The Biography.com website. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/artist/keith-haring

Editors. (2016, September 16). Gay art legend Keith Haring.Ending HIV. Retrieved from https://endinghiv.org.au/blog/legends-keith-haring/

Markham, A. (2018, January 28). Intro to Keith Haring. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QWL60HoUOQ&t=1s

The Canvas. (2019, August 6). Crack Is Wack. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9-h2ZXYSzE