This assignment was to select an artist who can be related to an art therapy approach and then create an artwork in the style of the chosen artist. After much research, I selected Keith Haring due to his unique style as well as his focus on world issues in his art. This paper will not only discuss Haring’s background and upbringing, but it will also discuss a few of his more famous works and how they relate to art therapy.
Keith Haring was born on May 4th, 1958 in Pennsylvania. Growing up, he found himself to be inspired by the artwork of Walt Disney, Charles Schultz, and Dr. Seuss. According to The Art Story, he began to illustrate cartoons himself as soon as he was old enough alongside his father, Allen Haring, who had a hobby of cartooning (The Art Story). Once Keith graduated high school in 1976, he enrolled in the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh. He quickly realized that this school was not for him and dropped out after only two semesters (The Art Story). He decided that he would like to return to school two years later, where he moved to New York City to attend the School of Visual Arts. This transit is essential to how Haring grew as an artist.
New York City is home to a thriving underground art scene. He found this inspiring, and he created very colorful and transgressive graffiti art in the streets. He discovered his love for graffiti while riding the subway. He noticed black empty advertising panels and began drawing on them with chalk (biography.com). The images that he created were simple. His early images included a baby emitting rays of light and figures with televisions for heads. I imagine this unconventional method was therapeutic, as drawing and coloring are very relaxing. He also made issues known to the public. For example in the design of people with televisions for heads makes viewers aware of the technology and media taking over our lives and how we think. Haring is not only making art, but he is also sharing a message that is important and bothersome to him. His work caught the attention of many, including the local police. He was arrested multiple times for vandalism. Eventually, Haring found several other emerging artists who shared his interests, two of which were Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf (biography.com). The three of them organized exhibitions in alternative locations such as nightclubs.
Eventually, Haring moved away from his illegal canvas and began focusing on more legal forms. He used his signature thick lines and bright colors throughout his works. His images provided insight on issues such as AIDS, drug addiction, illicit love, and apartheid (biography.com). By 1981, his art had gained enough popularity Haring was able to have his first solo exhibition at the Westbeth Painters Space in Manhattan (biography.com). A year later, his art was shown at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery and was the only gallery to represent him for the remainder of Haring’s career.
The popularity of Haring’s work was not just confined to New York City. His work was showcased all over the US, and even around the world. As Haring was gaining popularity, there were exhibitions in New York, Germany, France, and several other countries (Past One Person Exhibitions–Keith Haring). There have been exhibitions every year since 1980. Current international exhibitions of Haring’s work are in Hamburg, Germany and Kobuchisawa, Japan. There is also a domestic exhibit in Los Angeles, CA (Past One Person Exhibitions–Keith Haring). So Haring’s work is still relevant and consistently being displayed around the world.
Like many artists, Haring had a dream for his artwork. His goal was to make his work accessible and affordable for all (biography.com). This goal is another reason Keith Haring’s methods are examples of art therapy. His affordability mentality was very therapeutic. Being able to share his work with the world and have the less-fortunate be able to enjoy it for years to come likely felt limitless. He opened a retail shop in New York City which sold items such as posters and T-shirts featuring his signature designs (biography.com). So not only was he making his work accessible, but he was also able to make a living, rather than relying on his paintings to be sold at auction. It also allowed for his messages to reach much further than a museum or a wealthy patron’s living room.
Haring also contributed to the public. He created over 50 public works, including an anti-drug mural “Crack is Wack” in a Harlem playground and a billboard of “radiant baby” (biography.com) He also taught children, hosting many art workshops. Haring’s public contributions did not always begin as a public contribution. His most famous painting “Crack is Wack” originated as an act of vandalism (Kwarteng). Haring was extremely sick of the government’s way of dealing with drug-related issues. Haring’s response was to create an anti-drug mural on the wall of the courthouse. He had no legal permission to create the painting but wasn’t stopped by police. Gabrielle Kwarteng mentions a quote from Haring himself, “when you have a van, ladders, and paint, policemen don’t even consider asking whether you have any permission, they just assume you do (Kwarteng).” He was eventually stopped and faced jail time, which was lifted by all the good publicity the mural received. However, this mural was defaced by vandals and was painted over. The city government then requested Haring to create a new mural, which remains and is arguably the most famous painting that Haring ever created (Kwarteng).
Unfortunately, Harlem was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. He established the Keith Haring Foundation to support children’s programs and organizations dedicated to raising AIDS awareness. He succumbed to his illness on February 16, 1990, at 31 years old (biography.com). His art is still exhibited around the world, and many of his works are owned and displayed by prestigious museums all over the world.
The main reason that I selected Haring is his unique style. I believe that a majority of my classmates chose famous artists such as Picasso or of Van Gogh. I will admit, it was tempting as those artists each have a unique style. Instead, I found an artist who I found relatable and whose work is impressive. The simple cartoons Haring was well known for can be drawn quickly and send a message. His art can be used as therapy, especially for students who do not have a whole lot of spare time outside of their stressful coursework. All it takes it a piece of paper, a pack of sharpie markers, and a few minutes of time. One can draw what is stressing them out in a quick, graffiti style. These are the reasons to why I decided to analyze Keith Haring, his art style, and his life.