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Quick Facts
- NAME: Keith Haring
- OCCUPATION: Painter
- BIRTH DATE: May 04, 1958
- DEATH DATE: February 16, 1990
- EDUCATION: Ivy School of Professional, Art School of Visual Arts
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Reading, Pennsylvania
- PLACE OF DEATH: New York, New York
Best Known For
During his all-too-brief life, artist Keith Haring became a sensation in the art world with his bold, cartoon and graffiti influenced works during the 1980s.
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Play NowKeith Haring. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:36, May 22, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006.
Keith Haring. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006 [Accessed 22 May 2013].
"Keith Haring." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 22 2013, 04:36 http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006.
"Keith Haring," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006 [accessed May 22, 2013].
"Keith Haring," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006 (accessed May 22, 2013).
Keith Haring [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 22] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006.
Keith Haring, http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006 (last visited May 22, 2013).
Keith Haring. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/keith-haring-246006. Accessed May 22, 2013.
Synopsis
Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He moved to New York City in 1978, and began using the city as his canvas, making chalk drawings in subway stations. In 1982, he had his first New York one-man show at the Shafrazi Gallery. A critical success, he soon became one of most popular artists of the time. He died on February 16, 1990, of AIDS-related complications.
Quotes
"Drawing is still basically the same as it has been since prehistoric times. It brings together man and the world. It lives through magic."
Early Life
Artist Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958, in Reading, Pennsylvania. During his all-too-brief life, Keith Haring became a sensation in the art world with his bold, cartoon and graffiti influenced works during the 1980s.
Growing up in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, he spent many hours drawing with his father. Haring was fascinated by the popular cartoon art of Walt Disney and Charles Schultz. He briefly attended the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh after graduating high school in 1976. He dropped out after two semesters. In 1978, Haring decided to return to school, moving to New York City to become a student at the School of Visual Arts.
Early Artwork
With its thriving underground art scene, New York seemed to be the perfect fit for the young artist. He began using the city as his canvas, making chalk drawings of barking dogs and babies in subway stations. He also befriended such other emerging artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat and helped organize exhibitions at nightclubs and other alternative locations.
Critically-Acclaimed Artist
In 1982, Haring had his first New York one-man show at the Shafrazi Gallery. Not only did he create paintings and sculptures for the show, he engulfed the entire gallery with his bold color choices and frenetic designs. A critical success, he soon became one of the most popular artists of the time, with exhibits in Japan, Brazil and many other countries. Haring collaborated with other artists and performers, including Andy Warhol and William Burroughs.
Wanting to make his art more accessible, Haring opened Pop Shop in New York City in 1986. The store sold posters, t-shirts and other items baring his artwork and designs. He was also interested many social causes, painting an anti-drug mural that same year. In all, he did more than 50 public works and held numerous workshops for children. In 1988, Haring discovered that he had AIDS. The next year he created the Keith Haring Foundation to support AIDS organizations and children’s programs.
Death
The 31-year-old artist Keith Haring died on February 16, 1990, of AIDS-related complications. His works continues to be exhibited around the world and many are owned by such prestigious museums as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
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