Keith haring gay
New Keith Haring biography explores collective memory of New York's gay artistic past
In his new biography of Keith Haring (1958-90), the Fresh York-based writer Brad Gooch provides an exhaustive, often breathless, account of a life propelled by unremitting determination. Based on extensive explore in the artist’s archive, and the testimonies of an army of interviewees and correspondents, it traces Haring’s channel from drawing-obsessed childhood in rural Pennsylvania to international art world celebrity.
Following elevated school graduation, Haring enrolled at a commercial art academy in Pittsburgh, but left after six months, judging its vocational training irrelevant to his ambition to become a “real artist”. By the summer of 1978, the 20 year old was in Manhattan, about to commence studies at the Academy of Visual Arts. Soon after his arrival he made his way to Christopher Street, the West Village’s lesbian epicentre. It was “like landing in a candy store or, better, a gay Disneyland”, as he later recalled. And it was in New York that he began to truly uncover himself, both as a gay guy, and as an artist whose function and sexuality are inextricable. At the School of Visual Arts,
“I am a necessary part of an important seek to which there is no end.” This is a quote from Keith Haring who consecrated his life to activism through art. Keith Haring was an American pop artist born in 1958, primarily established for his graffiti art. His art gained popularity on the walls of the New York subways. Soon after, people began commissioning him for murals and other art forms. Keith made nearly 50 widespread artworks between the years 1982 and 1989. He created murals for hospitals, daycare centers, and even schools. After gaining enough recognition, he opened The Pop Shop, where much of his political art was displayed. His art held many themes, such as anti-crack, anti-apartheid, safe sex, homosexuality, and AIDS awareness. Haring was a gay male who often watched his peers plummet victim to AIDS and hate crimes. Since many of these topics were taboo to chat about during the 70s and 80s, he used his art as a way to communicate about topics he supported. Unfortunately, Keith died in February of 1990 due to AIDS complications, but his legacy can be seen throughout America today.
Haring’s perform is incredible, though one can’t support but wonder where he got his inspiration. For Hari
Why everyone loves Keith Haring
From the April 2024 issue of Apollo. Preview and subscribe here.
It is September 1989 and at the start of an AIDS awareness protest outside the New York Stock Exchange, a young queer activist unfurls a colourful banner. It depicts three jumping yellow figures on a red background with their hands in ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ poses. It is bordered by blue stripes bearing the slogans: ‘Ignorance = Fear. Silence = Death. Fight AIDS. Act Up’ and a pink triangle. At exactly the equal time, 600 miles away in small-town Ohio, a woman is hanging her striking new kitchen clock. She bought it on a recent trip to New York City in this cool store in SoHo. It’s tomato red with a cute colorless cartoon dog at its centre outlined in serious black. The whole family loves it – she can’t wait to reveal the neighbours. The East Village activist and the midwestern woman could hardly be more different culturally. But what unites them is that they are both holding artwork by Keith Haring.
Pale and nerdy with receding curly hair, round glasses and a uniform of sneakers, pale jeans and graphic T-shirts, this skinny young homosexual kid from Pennsylvania makes
LEARN MORE!
Hi everyone!
In honor of self-acceptance month I thought I would highlight Keith Haring, an openly gay man and artist who incorporated themes of sexuality, openness and inclusivity of the Homosexual community, and activism for broadening the conversation surrounding AIDS. Haring, born in 1958 and having lived through Stonewall and a time period where homosexuality was illegal, as well as a time when there were misunderstandings surrounding AIDS and a lack of conversation, incorporated and enable the events of those years influence much of his art. This was a very bold statement as homosexuality was illegal, but it also fit the time as support was growing and New York had its first pride parade in 1970.
There are two works of Haring’s I want to specifically underline, a poster celebrating the 20th anniversary of Stonewall which focuses on LGBTQ+ activism, and another work titled Ignorance = Fear, which focuses on the silence surrounding AIDS.
The poster features four figures incorporated with gender symbols to symbolize lesbian and queer same sex couples. The dashes surrounding their legs energize this piece and its support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Ignorance = F