Sold at Christie's $457,000

Few graffiti artists have made their way into mainstream art galleries.  Haring is an exception.  "The Universe of Keith Haring" is an intoxicating story of a life lived in the fast lane.  Since his death, Haring has been the subject of several international retrospectives. The work of Keith Haring can be seen today in the exhibitions and collections of major museums around the world.

In 1978, a nebbishy young man from Kutztown Pennsylvania, came to New York, enrolled in visual arts school, and in just a little time created a style of painting that took the art world by storm.

A new documentary about the artist has come out, featuring interviews and archival footage of 1980's era heroes such as Fab 5 Freddy, Grace Jones, and Madonna, along with Yoko Ono, Jeffrey Deitch, Kim Hastreiter, David LaChappelle, Kenny Scharf, Carlo McCormick, Andy Warhol, Ann Magnuson, Tony Shafrazi, and many others.  The documentary was created by Haring's authorized biographer.  The film also features music by Keith Haring's old buddy and NY house legend Junior Vasquez.




Keith Haring's life was fleeting but his work endures.  Today, the work of Keith Haring can be seen in exhibitions and collections of major museums everywhere around the world.

In 1988, he was diagnosed with AIDS. He established the Keith Haring Foundation in 1989, its mandate being to provide funding and imagery to AIDS organizations and children's programs, and to expand the audience for Haring’s work through exhibitions, publications and the licensing of his images. Haring used his imagery during the last years of his life to speak about his own illness and generate activism and awareness about AIDS.  In June 1989, on the rear wall of the convent of the Church of Sant'Antonio in Pisa, he painted the last public work of his life, the mural "Tuttomondo."  Keith Haring died in 1990.  A memorial service was held on May 4, 1990 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, with over 1,000 people in attendance.  As a celebration of his life, Madonna declared the first New York date of her Blond Ambition World Tour a benefit concert for Haring's memory, and donated all proceeds from her ticket sales to AIDS charities including AIDS Project Los Angeles and amfAR; the act was documented in her film "Truth or Dare."


I´D LIKE TO PRETEND THAT I´VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING, NEVER READ ANYTHING, NEVER HEARD ANYTHING...
AND THEN MAKE SOMETHING. --Keith Haring

About The Author:

	This article was written by J. Mark Soveign who writes for Wertheim Communications LLC as well as Mooker.Com Did you like this story? If so, vote for it on your favorite bookmarks site: